This countdown to Christmas/Kirihimete, I gift to you… inspiration. On the fourth day to Christmas, I’d like to introduce the inspiring and courageous Mataio “Matt” and Sarah Brown.
Both hail from Aotearoa; Matt’s tīpuna are Samoan, and Sarah’s tīpuna are Māori (Ngāpuhi/Te Rarawa). Matt is an author, communicator and an internationally acclaimed barber and hair artist at My Fathers Barbers. Sarah is a writer and producer and the co-founder of Sister Sister NZ, a digital marketing agency.
Matt endured a traumatic upbringing, including family violence and sexual abuse from the age of three. He courageously harnessed his pain into power.
Since 2018, Matt and Sarah have partnered with the Ministry of Social Development as ambassadors for their ‘It’s not OK Campaign’; they are proud ambassadors for Aviva Families, a family violence service centre in Christchurch and for a domestic violence research department in Griffith University in Australia.
In 2021, they released their co-authored and award-winning book ‘She Is Not Your Rehab’. She Is Not Your Rehab shines a light on family violence and sexual abuse and demonstrates that there is power in being vulnerable and honest. Their movement encourages people, particularly men, to acknowledge their pain and to take responsibility for their healing, to prevent pain being passed on.
In November 2022, they unveiled their latest campaign, a short documentary #WhoIsShe, created by Brandon Te Moana-Nui, which highlights the tragic reality of domestic abuse.
Check out their mahi at https://www.sheisnotyourrehab.com/.
Photo: Aviva Families.