Gilbert Pregno

(1953) studied psychology in Nancy and trained in family therapy in Brussels in the late 1970s. He later trained as a supervisor and organizational consultant in Essen. Until December 2018 he ran the Kannerschlass Foundation, a centre for children and families in distress. He has written and lectured extensively on family care, parenting, ethics and human rights. He is a member of the Luxembourg Consultative Commission on Human Rights, of which he was president from 2014 until March 2024. 

Ivy Daure: I’ve been friends with Gilbert Pregno for several years now.  He’s a well-known figure in his native Luxembourg. He’s a well-known systems engineer with extensive experience of working with families who don’t ask for anything, and he’s a man of great humanity and poetry.
Gilbert is a Harley-Davidson fan and whenever he can, he goes on a road trip with his Harley. He has travelled to Morocco, the USA, Spain and many other countries on his motorbike. But what’s really nice is that he often travels with a figurine of the Little Prince, whom he photographs in unusual places. I don’t know whether he’s the Little Prince or one of his dear friends, but he always carries it with him.
During his trip to the USA, one of his old shoes lost its sole. This shoe became the main protagonist of a beautiful story that Gilbert invented from scratch and accompanied his travelogue, and we, his friends, were waiting for news of Gilbert’s shoe in the USA. It reminded me of something very strong and very intimate for me, a Brazilian song that my father often sang for me called ‘The Old Shoe’, which tells the story of a father who grows old but who will always be there for his daughter even if he is an old shoe. He will always be able to warm her up and comfort her if she needs it, despite her old age. “Você lembra, lembra
Daquele tempo, eu tinha. Estrelas nos olhos, e um jeito de herói. Era mais forte e veloz.Que qualquer mocinho de cowboy. É, talvez eu seja simplesmente. Como um sapato velho. Mas ainda sirvo se você quiser. Basta você me calçar. Que eu aqueço o frio dos seus pés. »( Do you remember, do you remember back then, I had Stars in my eyes, and a hero’s way. I was stronger and faster Than any cowboy hero. Yeah, maybe I’m just Like an old shoe. But I’m still useful if you want. Just put me on. And I’ll warm your cold feet”).
So old shoes mean a lot to both of us.