History

The Edward de Bono Foundation was set up in Malta in August 1993 as a private, Malta-based, non-profit making philanthropic organisation with social, educational, cultural and humanitarian goals connected to the promotion of Dr. Edward de Bono’s work in creative and constructive thinking.

The Edward de Bono tools for Creative Thinking are a powerful set of attention directing tools aimed at creating new ideas and at using other, non-traditional approaches to thinking. The attraction of these tools is their simplicity. Anybody can use them. Anybody can change their thinking. Anybody can find new and creative solutions within a given time frame. Edward de Bono’s tools have been used by classes of 4 year old school children to a classroom made up solely of Nobel Prize winners. He has been instrumental in discussions leading to peace treaties and discovering novel solutions for large corporations and governments.

The Foundation is run by a board of six trustees:


Ms. Daniela Bartoli – C.E.O.

In promoting the work of Dr. Edward de Bono, the Foundation’s objectives are to:

(i) Encourage people of all ages to increase their interest in creative thinking and demonstrate that the study and practice of thinking is a positive factor that develops personality and self esteem, increases efficiency and contributes therefore to greater success in all forms of endeavour.

Over the years, The Edward de Bono Foundation has carried out a programme of very interesting, useful and varied activities:

The Ministry of Education has recognised the vital importance of educating children to think. As a result, de Bono Thinking Skills are being taught to children in public and private schools

at both primary and secondary levels and teachers have been employed by the Department of Education to further this goal. There is now a de Bono Thinking Skills office within the Department of Education. The Edward de Bono Foundation (Malta) served as a catalyst in the setting up of The Edward de Bono Programme for the Design and Development of Thinking at the University of Malta. This programme is a vital element of several academic courses run by the University with applications in Health Care, Education, Computers in Education, Engineering, Public Policy and Business Management amongst others. Apart from providing constant reference and support to students of de Bono’s Methods, the programme runs a highly-successful Annual Summer Seminar and an International Conference every two years at the University.

The Edward de Bono Foundation has held courses for the local Union body that enjoys largest representation of workers (47%), training all its shop stewards and members in de Bono thinking methods. The Foundation delivers ongoing training to the training arms of both of Malta’s bi-partisan constitution.

The Edward de Bono Foundation works with companies in industry to achieve higher efficiency, a common language amongst employees and higher levels of motivation and innovation.

The Edward de Bono Foundation supports and promotes Malta Dispute Management Limited, a company that has elected to use de Bono methods in the application of mediation techniques and of which company Dr. de Bono is the Chairman.

The Edward de Bono Foundation is involved in an increasing number of social projects working with the aged, the disabled, drug addicts, prisoners and unemployed youth.

The Edward de Bono Foundation is currently seeking to establish its publications arm assisting and encouraging those with innovative approach to publish their work and research.

The Edward de Bono Foundation has organised radio awareness campaigns for the general public and constantly seeks to increase its nucleus of accredited trainers.

The Foundation’s most important international project remains The World Centre for New Thinking.

Located in a strategic position, the Centre houses representative offices for large corporations and NGOs. This World Centre, directed by Dr Edward de Bono himself, is a-political and serve at assisting participating bodies to apply New Thinking to critical areas. The Maltese Government and sponsors from Malta and overseas have expressed their high interest in this unique “millennium” project. A place where “what is” thinking is developed into “what can be” thinking. A place where effective and practical solutions are found within a given time frame.