Counties Manukau Life Education Trust and its well-known mascot Harold the Giraffe support more than 28,000 children in the South Auckland region annually, delivering educational programmes covering issues such as vaping, bullying, obesity and mental health.
The Trust’s Fundraising Manager Kelvin Ricketts says that around 13 per cent of New Zealand children live in the area the organisation covers, which also has 42 per cent of the country’s low decile (decile one and two) schools.
“One in two of our students live in the most socioeconomically deprived areas, and this region reports some of the worst health and housing statistics in the country.
“So, there is a high demand for Life Education’s programmes.”
The local branch of Life Education operates five mobile classrooms in its region and visits about 80 of the 213 primary and intermediate schools in the area each year.
It has trained teachers in its educator roles, delivering the Healthy Harold programme to students in years one to eight. The programme is regularly updated to meet the community’s needs.
Vaping is a big focus currently. “Kids as young as seven are vaping already,” Kelvin says.
The mobile classrooms are a safe space for students to share and discuss issues that have arisen for them.
But providing this essential service to the community is not cheap—Kelvin says the organisation needs $700,000 to cover annual costs. The Trust has to raise $500,000 of that to meet expenses not covered by the fees the schools pay to participate in the programme.
Wiri Licencing Trust has helped by supporting Life Education’s applications to Trillian for funding for classroom equipment and new signwriting wraps on two of its mobile classrooms.
It has also provided vouchers from Woodside Bar and Restaurant for an annual golf day fundraiser and has homed Life Education mobile classrooms on its premises over summer when they are not in use in schools.
General Manager Kim Green says the Wiri Licensing Trust Board is happy to get behind Life Education’s mission to educate the area’s young people, support their development and help them make positive choices.
“Harold the Giraffe is an iconic Kiwi experience for our youth and really grabs attention in the schools. Even those of us who left school some time ago fondly reflect on our experiences with Harold.”
The gangly giraffe even made a surprise appearance at Woodside’s recent birthday party.
For Kelvin and the team, support from organisations such as Wiri Licensing Trust is critical to survival.
“We don’t get any government funding, and it’s getting harder to find support with more organisations competing for the money available in the community.
“The team at Wiri Licensing Trust is really easy to work with. They are so accessible.”
Wiri Licensing Trust wants to connect with local community groups and organisations that are doing great work in our hood to understand how we can better support you – email us at info@wiritrust.org.nz.
