Update to Voirreys position at Schumacher College

Voirrey is what makes our nights and cookings a bless! She is so kind and full of energy that it's impossible not to love her!

I spent 7 months at Schumacher college, and voirrey was one of the closet friends I had. Coming in from Africa she really helped me settle in when i was new to the college. Losing Voirrey would truly be a terrible loss as she it part of the fabric of this incredible place. I remember walking often with her around the beautiful estate and feeling extrememly happy to have met someone as curious to sse and experience much of what nature has to offer. Baking with foirrey was also one of the best things, as I learnt so much about life through baking. I truly hope that she might stay and find a way still serve this wonderful college.

Having shared a cottage with Voirrey for eight months whilst volunteering at the college last year, I was privileged to get to know her on a deep level. Embodying the ethos of the "head, hand heart" pedagogy that the college strives for, she is a woman who stands as the beating heart of all that the college is and has become. Threading across staff, volunteer and residential roles, Voirrey truly understands what makes the place tick, what is really going on with each separate element, and what needs to happen to make the magic work. She is, in many ways, like the humble metronome of the Schumacher symphony, allowing us all to find a sense of calm and leveling both the emotional and intellectual turmoil experienced by so many in those hallowed walls. Her nightly presence in the kitchen serves as a therapy centre for many - on so many levels - and her intense wisdom, empathic engagement and intellectual curiosity are inspiring. Voirrey listens and cares about every individual she encounters - a rare attribute in any person - and embodies what we are all striving for when coming to the college. I know that there will be new ways explored to support her staying on, as it is unthinkable to imagine anything else.

Truth be said I love Voirrey!! She has a special place deep deep inside my heart and she will always have it because of who she is and what she does - her actions and her words. She will never walk in this world alone.... I feel that she is the personification and embodiment of the Schumacher spirit - She is the change I want to see in the world: Kind, caring, generous, wise, attentive, modest, curious, humble, value driven and willing to pay a price for what she believes, are all but a few of her fine and delicate attributes. For myself, she is a role model. She is a bridge of peace in the community between the different members: old or young, faculty, volunteer or student. Voirrey is also part of the organizational culture and dynamics at the college, her knowledge about it and the different processes which took place along the years give her a super important position when initiating new ones (and she doesn't take this responsibility lightly) . This is the sort of knowledge and understanding which we are taught to hold dear throughout our studies. I think that she is a treasure and a present which the college would choose wisely to keep and cherish -the many qualities she brings to our wonderful community and institution are priceless!!!

Having spent just five days at Schumacher, it is easy to see why Voirrey is so vital for the College. Her knowledge of baking and fermentation is just phenomenal and as well as inspiring so many to take it up (myself included), it also goes a long way to keeping everyone fed. Personally though, I have spent more time with Voirrey outside of the College, from which time I have many fond memories of long discussions about everything microbiological. She possesses that rare combination of being open-minded whilst at the same time viewing everything through the lens of critical analysis. Voirrey is also one of the keenest listeners I have ever met. Her eagerness to listen to what little I could teach her was humbling and should be an inspiration for all who meet her. Learning to listen is a lesson we all need. So, for all of these reasons, it is hard to imagine a more valuable teacher and friend for students of all kinds.

Voirrey is the one person I met at Schumacher who embodies the ethos of the college. She was also perhaps the only one who took the time and love to truly see and know me. Losing her will make it easier for Schumacher to streamline itself commercially, perhaps, because Voirrey offers a beautiful challenge to the stale methodologies of clinical homogeneity and capitalistic values. The loss of her presence is the loss of the college's most wise, creative, funny, loving and vibrantly beating heart.

Vorrey was essential to my Schumacher experience. She brings much value to the college and should be guaranteed a place in its heart.

Voirrey is one of the Schumacher symbols ... one of the first things that comes to my mind when someone says "Schumacher college". She really makes warmth of the home. And it's not about her baking role it's mostly about her open and heartful communication with everyone. She is always ready to be there for the others in many roles, such as listener, discuter, adviser, etc. Talking with her is everytime full of engagement and visible care for the others.

For me she is the soul of the college such as other fellows like Julia, Stephan, Satish, Phillip, etc. As a community my suggestion is open a discussion with the Schumacher community and discuss the best way to address this issue.

Voirrey you are the heart of the community, our time at Schumacher would not have been the same without you. Some of my dearest memories come from our talks in the kitchen, and sourdough making sessions. Your bread and fermented goods being a very delicious bonus! Thank you for being a wise, kind and caring pillar at Schumacher!

8 years ago Featured

Voirrey. She was always the accessible person at Schumacher. Whenever others were too busy, too pre occupied, too full of themselves Voirrey would be there to listen, reassure, respond. Shame on Schumacher. Small ( including small but vitally important roles) is beautiful.

Voirrey is the bridge between staff and students in the Schumacher community. As a resident she is at the College and in the kitchen at all hours of the night, filling the critical role of being a supportive ear and friend for those in need. She was the first person to help me feel more at home and comfortable in a new place. I hope the College understands that this level of residential support is needed, and how well Voirrey fills this role.

Voirey is one of the Elders at Schumacher College. We shared our living as we were both at Centries for a few months, besides many conversations at late hours at the kitchen as I suffered from insomnia and Voirey baked bread. I learned with Voirey the value of hard work and the virtue of kindness. I also learned with her that leadership is about service and not stage, and that it is always possible to care for others even if one has so much to care about themselves. These were some of the most important lessons I took home from Schumacher College, and I heartfeltly consider Voirey my teacher. I cannot even start to imagine what Schumacher will be without her. I hope she can still teach many more students to come through her presence and example.

After only one week being here at Schumacher College I was already discussing with one of the students how lucky we were to have a person like Voirrey in the college. She does so many things, and she is always there for who needs. The college is such a nice and welcoming place thanks to her and all what she does. Always available for a nice conversation, to teach about fermentation or how to do bread, always smiling and warmhearted... Her breads are just incredible and make so many people happy all the time!

She is one of the fundamental elements that connects the whole community. Her presence makes everybody feels at home, makes possible a sense of being wholy there, of belonging, of being a community. The movement of sending her away, is as much a lack of gratitude to what she devoted to the college, as it is a threat to the spirit of the college, and what makes it what it is: a community of whole human beings, not an institution of roles described in brocratic contracts. This is a small movement of giving up what is precious and revolutionary in the Schumacher ways and allowing the practice of the reductionist impersonal system we see out in the world, eith all the suttle and dreadful consequences of it. If Schumacher is not to resist an carry on loving and humane whos is going to do so! Voirrey has her personal worth, but also an important role in the community, and making Schumacher what it is, but what dismissing her in this way represents is what mostly worries me, and all those who care about the continuity of what makes Schumacher special and unique in the world. I sincerely hope Schumacher can reconsider and find a solution that heads again towards nurturing its essence. One suggestion, would be to welcome Voirrey as an elder in the community, for as long as she want to, and as long at she feels it is necessary. With all my love to Voirrey and to everyone at Schumacher and hoping for the best, Luiz, from Escola Schumacher Brasil.

As many others will write, I am sure, Voirrey is the HEART of the college. She is the most involved and caring member of the community, and let's not forget that asides from a formal institute of learning that's what the college is - a living community! Alongside Satish, Julia and Stephan, Voirrey is the longest term community member that volunteers and students encounter on their Schumacher journey. She holds so much knowledge about all the little things that really make a difference (this is spoken as a volunteer). If Voirrey was to choose to leave any time soon (and I firmly believe that it should be her CHOICE) - then a proper process of handing over both all of the knowledge which she holds, and all of the tasks which she does seamlessly behind the scenes should be done. Having had to try and cover her bread-making and kefir care for two weeks, I can really tell you that what she does is immense for the college. And anyone who doesn't recognise her invaluable position within the college is blind or uninterested. Voirrey - I feel completely authorised to say that we all love you very much, and that if you were made to go so fast and so unceremoniously those of us who have been at Schumacher long enough to get to know you would be outraged to say the least! Love, kindness and deep respect to Voirrey <3

I was quite shocked to hear that Voirrey got given only 2 weeks notice after everything she's done for Schumacher. Voirrey is a pillar to the community and has brought so much more that her assigned job. She has been supporting and caring for us all, taking personal time to discuss personal issues when needed and making us feel welcome and a part of the community. If Schumacher decide to go ahead with this poor decision, it is a great loss.

Voirrey is Schumacher College! She represents everything we learned at the College. Openness, kindness and critical thinking. Voirrey does not only talk about about a sustainable life but actually lives it. Voirrey is incredibly important for the Schumacher Community and always has an open ear for all the problems we faced during our time as students. I can't and I don't want to imagine Schumacher College without her!

Voirrey is the heart of this college. She is always there to talk, making us delicious breads and being warm. She holds the community and participate in every action and project. She is part of the culture of the college

I'm definitely not the most poetic person and so will fail to put into words what Voirrey brings to Schumacher. Voirrey is someone you discover by chance - well she was for me - she is like a hidden library - a unique department secreted away - she is the magician and trickster - she is the friend and heart you turn to - she is the fun and the learning - she is a fierce advocate of others and the College's ideals but the most humble when speaking of herself. Voirrey is the real 'emergent property' of this place. I remember the first time I saw her bring a fresh baked loaf out - I'd never baked bread or eaten fresh loaves and felt spell bound by the beauty and the blessing of it. To summarise Voirrey and her role here in one word? - 'Magic' because it's hard to quantify and categorise what she does - but without it - we would all be missing something rather special. Robyn Minogue, Grower, 2017