Keirah's Story:
"I realised that I wasn't alone anymore"
Keirah at camp with young carers
My name is Keirah Martin, and I am a young carer.
I have grown as a person, a friend, and a daughter all because of Char and Unseen Heroes. I was given hope—a reason to keep trying. Unseen Heroes provided me with so many opportunities and support that I couldn't possibly have imagined getting from anywhere else.
When I first started my healing journey, I was introduced to Char Rain. I was scared at first because I had no idea what to expect. It wasn’t until I sat down with Char for the first time that I realized I wasn't alone anymore and didn’t have to be afraid of change. She has taught me how to be okay with my feelings and how to deal with them on my own. She taught me not to rely on other people to “fix” me but to learn to cope with my feelings myself.
From the beginning of 2019 until early 2023, I struggled with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. I am not afraid to say that. Most days, I would spend in bed, overthinking and feeling like no matter what I did, it wasn’t enough. I struggled to get out of bed to go to school because it made me feel unhappy and overwhelmed.
Char helped me work through my emotions and understand where all my pain was coming from. Because of that, I was able to help myself in a way that suited me best. Four years of pain took one year of Char’s help, one camp, and many lessons along the way to be able to love myself. For that alone, I am forever grateful. Char hasn’t only helped me; she’s helped hundreds of kids who are now adults and kids who are learning to become adults. If you’re still unsure about Unseen Heroes, here is my personal experience.
"Four years of pain took one year of Char's help, one camp, and many lessons along the way to be able to love myself."
I went to my first camp with Char in November 2023. I was scared, but I knew it would be okay because she would be there to support me and help me through my anxiety. When I first arrived, I had so much anxiety that I walked in and sat down at the nearest empty table because I was afraid of what the other kids would think of me. On the second day, I opened up more to everyone and started being myself around them. That was by far the best decision I have made in my life. When I opened up, I found new friends who would always understand me and how I felt. By the third day, I was comfortable around everyone and anyone. I made new connections with people I would have been afraid to talk to outside of camp.
Keirah with another young carer in the Te Ara Mārama programme.
The second camp I attended was in February 2024. I wasn’t scared or anxious; I was excited because I knew the friends I had made at the previous camp would be there to greet me. I was right—when I walked through the door, not even a minute later, multiple people from the last camp walked up and hugged me. I could see the excitement on their faces, and I just knew the connection was still there. I was greeted by all my old friends and introduced myself to new ones. I wasn’t scared or anxious. On the second day, everyone started to open up to each other, and we learned each other's names. There were about 40 kids, so that's a lot of names, and that night, a group of boys helped teach a haka to all the kids and some volunteers. We bonded with each other, and on the last day of camp, at the end of highs and lows, we all performed a haka for Char to show her the respect she has earned from us.
"Without Camp Unity, most of us kids would still be in the same place we were before we attended camp."
Unseen Heroes created a safe space for many kids and adults, me being one of them. My words may not be enough to convince you, but if you take the time to see us and hear us, you may begin to understand that without Unseen Heroes, most of us kids would still be in the same place we were before we attended camp.
My name is Keirah Martin, and I am a young carer.
Keirah with other young carers from the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions.