Willy Randin honoured with the Albert-Schweitzer-Prize 2017

A Life dedicated to the work of Albert Schweitzer

“Schweitzer’s works and ideas have actually strongly influenced my life. Not only did I have the privilege of being the director of the Albert-Schweitzer-Hospital in Lambarene and to visit the Albert-Schweitzer-Hospitals in Haiti, Peru and India, as well as bringing to life many organisations which meet the goal and purpose of the same intention” maintained the honoured person with modesty. Afterwords came the briefly named “building blocks” of the life achievements of Willy Randin, which despite – or perhaps because of – his age of 81 years is not yet over.

In the service of the Red Cross

Randin directed two Red Cross hospitals in Yemen (1965) and Vietnam (1966–1968), both countries at this time were affected with war. In Vietnam, he was a head of delegations and assigned to the construction of a children’s hospital. Furthermore he was responsible for helping the 250,000 persons needing to evacuate their homes.
The example which Albert Schweitzer has given him, he considers as current as ever. The main idea of Schweitzer’s “Revenue for life” means that “Today’s people should be even more aware, because they are provided with technology in such a dimension that the intrinsic values of life are no longer perceived. This maxim contains three parts: the respect for humans, for animals and for nature which means for the environment.”

Organisation “Nouvelle Planète”

Willy Randin was guided by these principles when founding the Organisation for Development Cooperation “Nouvelle Planète/New Planet” as well as “Youth without borders”, “Women without Borders”, of the “Albert-Schweitzer-Environmental Organisation” etc. Also diverse partnerships among professional groups, communes and other entities come from the desire for more solidarity.
The honoured has primarily tried to motivate young people through volunteer work with African, Asian, and Latin American teenagers by mastering projects. The goal was the bridging of the borders and obstacles, the contact with others, just as he is, what he knows, what he can and will do. 32 years after these initiatives, 10,000 young Europeans and just as many people from the Southern part of the earth have enriched their lives with a positive experience which will continue and grow.

Director in Lambarene from 1970–1971

After having led the Albert-Schweitzer-Hospital in Lambarene, he visited countries in the Sahel, where he noted the major damage caused by the drought.
The residents had to leave their villages without knowing where to go. Around the hospital built by Dr Ken Elliott in Djibo (Bukina Faso) in the sense of Albert ­Schweitzer, Willy Randin found hundreds of people suffering from hunger. Dr Ken Elliott told him that all he could give them was a bowl of millet with some sauce, and that only every two days. This food contains no vitamins and the children were at risk of blindness.

“Centre Ecologique Albert Schweitzer”

He felt compelled to act because of the peasants’ requests in the dry Sahel zone and in memory of Schweitzer‘s words on ethics of responsibility. He found that the lack of rain was a consequence of the reduced tree population because the wood was used for cooking and therefore the trees were cut down.
But he also found that the tanning in this region is three times stronger than in southern France. Willy Randin therefore thought of using solar energy instead of wood. He asked Maurice Lack, the architect of the new hospital in Lambarene, for advice, and they set themselves the goal

• to set up an environmental protection studio “Centre Ecologique Albert ­Schweitzer” in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) to use solar sensors, to produce solar ovens, solar water heaters and solar refrigerators;
• to train local craftsmen to make and maintain the solar devices and to produce other utensils necessary for the careful handling of wood (manual pumps, lattice enclosures).

Today, 37 years later, there are already 64 ATESTA workshops (Ateliers d’Energie Solaire and Technologies Appropriées) in 10 African countries. They all are self-sustaining and provide a safe livelihood for 4,000 local craftspeople who are useful to their country and their people.
Of course, it is not enough only to save wood. You also have to reforest. Thanks to Willy Randin‘s initiative, villagers have been shown from the beginning how to make compost, grow seedlings and plant trees.

• The women immediately accepted the production of compost and crops.
• The population immediately realised that by winning new cultural soil, the progression of the desert could be stopped. After only five years, a fertile soil is once again created where crops and vegetables thrive.
• The women produced dried fruits and vegetables and were encouraged in their suggestions to pass on their knowledge to apprenticeships, where girls have the same training opportunities as the boys.
• The most gratifying achievements have been in the construction of primary schools in those villages where women have campaigned. Girls’ education has increased from 20 to 45 per cent in several countries.
• Finally, family planning programmes have been initiated – also at the request of the women – as only every second child is desired.

We also feel our responsibility in view of the massive flows of migrants and refugees across the Mediterranean, which mean enormous risks.

Bookpublications and films

In addition to many concrete aid projects, Willy Randin has kept his wealth of experience in numerous books in French since 1981 and left as a stimulus for reflection. There are titles (translated) such as: “Hopeful signs”; “Albert Schweitzer, a model today”; “Effective cooperation”; “Development – future of the woman”; “Mountain dwellers in Vietnam – consecrated lifeline”; “From enthusianism to action”; “Women, sources of progress”; “Fight for a more humane earth”. Together with his wife Henriette numerous films were produced, altogether 25 contributions from his diverse work! (If you are interested in books/film documents, please contact: w.randin@nouvelleplanete.ch)

Outlook and thanks

Schweitzer’s work today certainly has dimensions that the Alsatian pioneer would not have dreamed of. For example, in addition to the listed organisations, there is also a Philippine Association for the rescue of street children and in Burkina Faso an Association for animal protection and reverence for life. These are just a few examples of how Willy Randin and his team show the way for a future in the sense of their role model Albert Schweitzer: In a future, which the 81 year-old honore will continue to help shape.
As the president of the Albert ­Schweitzer Hospital Swiss Fellowship, I can only say: Congratulations on your deserved honor. Great respect, thanks – Willy. Good health for your tireless zest. You are a great role model for us all.     •

Source: Berichte aus Lambarene und über das Gedankengut Albert Schweitzers, Nr. 124, Oktober 2017 (Reports from Lambarene and the thoughts of Albert Schweitzer, No 124, October 2017)

(Translation Current Concerns)