Strong and Hard: Advancing Climate Justice and Disability Rights Through Music

UUSC partner Te Toa Matoa is a Kiribati-based nonprofit. In Gilbertese, the native language of Kiribati, Te Toa Matoa means “Strong and Hard.” TTM is a grassroots federation of organizations supporting individuals with physical, developmental, and cognitive disabilities. One of the ways Te Toa Matoa makes a positive impact in the lives of people with disabilities (PWD) is by helping them enrich their lives and the culture of the island through music and dance.

Te Toa Matoa preserves the culture of the Kiribati people amidst increasing climate devastation through music and dance.  TTM is also engaged in the work of cultural engagement by making Kiribati dance and music—the culture’s primary expression of its art, stories, and values—accessible to Kiribati youth. In these ways, TTM supports people with disabilities to live lives of meaning and impact today, helping ensure that this community is not when environmental and climate crises strike.

Climate change leads to storm surges, and storm surges bring severe flooding. After one such storm, all of TTM’s instruments were damaged. In 2023, TTM reached out to UUSC for help in acquiring new instruments so they could continue using music as a form of empowerment for people with disabilities (PWDs) and as a way to strengthen their cultural identity. In response, UUSC sent board member Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti, co-chair of the UUSC Board of Trustees, to Kiribati to witness the needs of the organization and the work they are doing. Manish reflected on his experience:

“The romanticized Hollywood notion of the South Pacific—with lounge chairs and fruity umbrella drinks in an idyllic setting—was nowhere to be found. It didn’t matter, though, because the warmth and generosity of the Kiribati people were more impactful than any Brady Bunch in Hawaii ideas I might have had. 

“The Kiribati people I met never treated me as a ‘stranger.’ Every encounter held the openheartedness and possibility of relatives meeting for the first time.”

To help TTM rise above the devastation of recent storms and continue their life-changing work, UUSC is committed to raising $100,000. This vital funding will not only replace the instruments that were lost but also safeguard them against future storms—ensuring that TTM can continue assisting individuals with disabilities and preserving the unique culture of Kiribati while staving off the harsh impacts of the climate crisis. 

Now is the time to act. Your generosity will allow TTM to remain self-sufficient and resilient, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and cultural preservation. Every donation brings us closer to our goal, and no amount is too small to make a meaningful impact. Join with us in lifting up the people of Kiribati, and give today—because together, we can keep their spirit alive, we can keep TTM strong and hard.

Image credit: UUSC