Te Rina (Co-Founder) experience the challenges of caring since the age of 16 for her older brother after an accident left him with a Traumatic Brain Injury. She was so proud to support her whānau but the pressure of caring became overwhelming. She struggled to balance studies and caring, and behind closed doors she self-harmed, had suicide ideation, no self-love or self-worth, and felt guilty for feeling happiness in any activity. She felt selfish to be feeling that way when her brother couldn't even walk or talk. Te Rina had seen counsellors and reached out to others for support, but no one understood.

 

By the time Te Rina met Char Rain (Holistic Healer, Co-Founder), she was on a fast track to becoming another statistic: a high school dropout, struggling with mental health and using alcohol and drugs to cope. Char worked with Te Rina and her whānau as they began their healing journey. She helped Te Rina to develop her self-love and self-worth, teaching her to believe in herself and to have aspirations for her future. With Char's support, Te Rina went on to university, graduated with a conjoint in Law and Social Science degree. After Te Rina opened up about her young caring experience on Sunday TVNZ in 2015, many whānau came forward to share with Te Rina and Char their struggles dealing with the long term-impact on Young Carers who are not supported.

 

Realising the huge unmet need, Te Rina and Char co-founded Camp Unity so all Young Carers can benefit as Te Rina did. Camp Unity makes sure that Young Carers are seen, heard, understood and supported in their mental health, education, and life outside of care, to be flourishing tamariki and rangatahi. #SeenHeardFound