About Us
Friends of Albert Schweitzer (UK) is a charity set up by people who respect the achievements and philosophy of Dr. Albert Schweitzer. Some of us knew and worked with him in Africa and others of us have learnt about him and developed a strong admiration for what he has done and what he has left to humanity in his written works.
Our charity has grown out of Dr. Schweitzer's Hospital Fund, a charity formally constituted in 1959 with very specific aims. These are to support Dr. Schweitzer's hospital at Lambarene in the Gabon, Central Africa, and other hospitals administered in accordance with his philosophy. The Fund will continue with this work, while Friends of Albert Schweitzer (UK) will have the wider remit of educating the public about Albert Schweitzer and initiating charitable projects in the UK and abroad which keep Schweitzer's spirit and legacy to the world alive and active.
A large part of our aim is to raise awareness of Albert Schweitzer’s ethical philosophy of Reverence for Life, which we feel is as relevant today, perhaps even more so, than it was when the Doctor worked on its development from 1915 until he died in 1965. We want to practice and promote new ways of applying this philosophy in our lives, today and for the future.
Mission Statement:
To keep alive the story of Albert Schweitzer and his hospital in Lambarene and to help spread his thoughts and writings as widely as possible.
To affirm the universal validity of Albert Schweitzer’s concept of Reverence for life and the environmental ethics which are their foundation, and to promote and practice new ways of applying this in the changing circumstances of our lives for the benefit of future generations.
To disseminate information and to provide support for projects in the UK and worldwide, which are inspired by the ethics of reverence for life and attempt to express these in practice.
Trustees of FoAS (UK):
Chairman: Percy F. E. Mark
Secretary: Vreni Mark
Treasurer: James Mark
Caroline Gill
Adrian Gill
Brigitte Harris
Michael Harris
Matt Rippy
Helena Seth-Smith
Wendy Schweitzer
Frank Schweitzer
Michael Trousdell
Claire Walker
