Youth Defy Cynicism And Fatigue And Get Behind Plan To Create The Animal Connection

November 4, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Often, in the grown up world, cynicism and fatigue can quickly extinguish the fires of passion. It can be very easy at times to just say “oh, heck, it’s just too hard” or conclude that the problems “are just too big”. And the common fallback position then, is to collapse on our couches and rely on these things called ‘governments’ that we have created, to fix all the wrongs in the world.

When founder Michele Harrod first spoke to people about her plan to ‘save’ the old Franklin Zoo site and create The Animal Connection, it was often a fellow adult who would immediately come up with a list of reasons it wouldn’t work. When approaching media personalities to support the idea and act as a spokesperson, many agreed it was an audacious, exciting plan, but they just couldn’t be involved as they don’t believe she will reach her target.

That has not dampened Michele’s enthusiasm or her drive to do something very very different. The plan is to harness the power of crowdfunding, to unite people around a shared dream to put this iconic site into a trust, and then to transform it into The Animal Connection, a nurturing haven where young and old can connect with animals. She is committed to showing as she says in her own words “We are greater in numbers than a few ‘elected’ representatives, and collectively, our power has no equal.”

A key reason behind,what some may call, ‘crazy’ determination is the tremendous support that Michele and the plan have received from the young people that she works with and whom she meets.

When she left the corporate world four years ago and returned to University, she was fortunate enough to also get accepted in a part time role at an Auckland boarding school. She says that at the time “I had no idea just how much these children would teach me over the following four years, lessons I value just as much as those I learned in the lecture theatres at Unitec. Nor could I ever have imagined how much they would inspire me to want to make a difference.” She writes about this in a personal blog post.

A key learning from her studies in Animal Welfare and Biodiversity at Unitec was that the only way to change the world we have created, and the lives of all of those who live on it – both humans and animals, is to change the hearts of humans. We need to find new ways of thinking, new ways of living, and most importantly, more open and collective ways of loving.

This was the fundamental inspiration behind the plan to save Franklin Zoo and create an Animal Sanctuary, where not only could children come and see animals, but have the opportunities to learn more about them, and to understand their power in changing their future too.

Since she has launched this campaign, many have told her that the target is “just too big”, and that this whole thing is all a bit complicated which makes it “just too hard”. On the flip side, youthful friends marvel at the possibilities, and anything seems possible, even the parts which older people refer to as ‘impossible’. Quite simply because the ‘KIDS GET IT’. From the day she told them what she was planning – not one of them said – that will never happen. They said: “This is amazing.” “What can I do to help?”

And they have, in droves, whether it be calling TV Stations to try and get publicity for the project, using this project to produce their own radio documentaries, donating whatever they can from a weekly pay check EVERY week to help us reach our target of NZ$2.9 million, right through to hand sewing toy elephants and selling them on trade-me to fundraise. The kids just ‘get it’ and they also just get on with doing what they can to make it happen.

In the words of Pearl S. Buck “The Young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible and achieve it generation after generation.”

At the end of the day, Michele is committing everything in her power, including putting up all the cash to fund the development and execution of this campaign to create a place where they, and their families can come and relax and reconnect with nature. She is motivated by their support and belief to create a place where we can save the lives of animals who are at risk, and from them, learn the most important lesson of all, “where there is love – anything is possible.”

We sincerely hope that the media will feel this energy, enthusiasm, hard work and passion – and in turn, give us the best shot to show the youth of New Zealand that even the biggest and most audacious dreams are achievable. To date the campaign has raised just shy of NZ$218,000 since launch beginning of October 2014.

For more information, please visit www.theanimalconnection.org.nz

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheAnimalConnectionNZ

Twitter: www.twitter.com/animalconnectNZ

Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/AnimalConnectionNZ

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