Welcome to the site “A man for Peace”! The goal of this site is to gather materials about Reuven Feuerstein. My name is Umberto Margiotta, and I am full professor of Educational Sciences at the University of Venice. I consider the development of personal talents as the most important element to promote peace in the world. In the 1950s Professor Feuerstein, through his theory of Cognitive Structural Modifiability, was among the firsts to state that human brain can be modified. With his methods and theories, he sought to integrate people coming from other cultures. According to Feuerstein's beliefs, while humanity must be united, differences between populations need also to be respected. His methods have also helped people with learning disabilities - including those considered mentally retarded - to improve their cognitive functioning, seeking to integrate them into regular classes and a normal social environment. Throughout his decades-long career, Reuven Feuerstein's educational and clinical work has helped many people, irrespective of race, religion, nationality, age, physical condition and social class. He has developed a method which teaches acceptance of those who are different, and helps people of different backgrounds to fully develop their potential. In so doing, Professor Feuerstein educational methods have contributed to the creation of a just society and to the promotion of values of integration. Reuven Feuerstein’s theories and proven methods have served as powerful instruments for the advancement of humanity and peace in the world.
Umberto Margiotta

After knowing Reuven Feuerstein for 12 years, it is a great privilege for me to testimony for him. His work methods are internationally recognized, and his bibliography huge. After spending hundreds of hours with Professor Feuerstein at his institute, I can witness for his absolute unselfishness. I can tell also about the deepness of the human relations among his workers, who are animated by this exceptional man. Talking about the people taken in charge at the Feuerstein institute, I want to point out the stunning progresses they do. There are those who have specific cognitive needs, and those who had been under-estimated because of their cultural differences – notably the immigrants such as the Ethiopians in Israel. Last but not least, I want to testimony the joy of the families coming from many countries, and bringing with them a rare human warmth. This exceptional quality, this involvement and generosity given despite race, ethnicity, religion, social level, fortune degree or political problems led us to enlarge the intervention in a series of countries, including the weakest ones such as Rwanda. Countless people have been treated a with the Feuerstein methods round the world for more than 50 years. One among the last interventions is being developed in Palestine. There, children are taken in charge, their educators are trained to the Feuerstein methods, and programs are translated into Arabic.

Claude Bassou