Life Education Trust educator Mandy Morrogh with students from Totara North School. Photo / Supplied
Life Education Trust educator Mandy Morrogh with students from Totara North School. Photo / Supplied
If you went to school in the last 30 years, you might remember Harold the Giraffe.
Now he needs your help.
Harold's Far North mobile classroom is the only one - out of 45 in the country - yet to be updated with the latest technology; and the Life Education Trust (the charity that keeps Harold going) needs to raise $50,000 to get that update.
Diane Henderson, chairwoman of Life Education Trust Far North, said the inside of the classroom hasn't changed much from the days where the educator sat up the front with Harold and there was a video - or DVD - that played.
"The new upgrade is amazing. The sides of the walls are all touch screens and if the teacher brings up the body and the heart or something the kids can go in and touch it and see the heart beating - it's just really interactive.
"It's always been a magical place with the star lights - it's that kind of thing again but we're taking it to the next level now and we think our kids deserve it."
For those not familiar, Harold the Giraffe and the Life Education Trust have been teaching kids about health and nutrition from mobile classrooms for more than 30 years.
Harold the Giraffe's Far North classroom. Photo / Supplied
There are now 45 mobile classrooms which stop at different schools across the country.
Henderson said Harold is an icon.
"We talk to parents now who remember Harold.
"As a teacher sometimes you just don't get time in the classroom to look at those topics that are really important. But this is coming from the outside into the school, and the kids sit up and listen because Harold is known."
Henderson said the classroom in the Far North is one of the oldest in the country and has been going since 1996.
It visits 80 schools a year and Henderson said Life Education Trust Far North has been trying to save money for the upgrade.
"We need to pay our educator and we do a lot of kilometres with our classroom so we've got to pay for all the fuel and maintenance of the classroom and the truck that pulls it. So money gets eaten up with that before we get to saving money for the upgrade."
The trust has organised a night with Nigel Latta on May 14 to fundraise for the upgrade. Tickets will be on sale through the Turner Centre or if you would like to donate contact Henderson on dianesh50@gmail.com or 021 407 015.
Henderson said it would be "so amazing" if Northland children were able to enjoy the upgrade.
"For them, the messages we give are so important - on healthy living and making good choices. And to be able to go in and see things happen and touch screens it's more memorable for them."
