A label can stick, especially if people get to know someone through the lens of the mainstream media. Arman Abrahimzadeh's journey began when the media labelled him a 'victim' after his mother was murdered by his father in front of hundreds of witnesses.

Not willing to be known as a 'victim', through his continuous advocacy and community work in raising awareness of domestic violence, Arman changed the perception of the media, the general public and even his perception of himself.

Arman Abrahimzadeh established The Zahra Foundation to provide women who leave abusive relationships the opportunity to gain new skills and employment, and find safe homes for their families. He is an ambassador for White Ribbon and Our Watch, and a dedicated board and committee member for a number of organisations focused on ending disadvantage, including family violence.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx