MANILA, Philippines — Global Korean boy group BTS teamed up with United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) in a video aimed at encouraging youth to end bullying and violence in schools.
Photo courtesy of UNICEF
The short video uploaded Tuesday, the international day of friendship, features incidents where children experience violence and bullying inside schools with the group’s song “Love Myself” playing on the background.
As the story develops, the audience sees a switch in the behavior of those being bullied after their peers offered kindness, support and love.
“Children and young people have told us time and again that being treated with kindness and respect helps them to feel safe in and around school,” Unicef Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a statement.
“Every day, students face a range of violent acts, from bullying and physical attacks to corporal punishment, sexual assault and harassment online. By being kind, children and young people can show their support for each other and brighten someone’s day,” Fore added.
Fore also thanked BTS for taking part in Unicef’s campaign, saying “We’re grateful to BTS for their continued commitment to making sure that no child is afraid to go to school.”
The video is part of Unicef’s campaign to “#ENDViolence” and BTS’s “LOVE MYSELF” campaign which has raised over $2 million since its launch in November 2017.
“Our LOVE MYSELF campaign is all about encouraging every young person to find the love from within themselves and spreading that love to others,” BTS said in the same statement.
“We want everyone to take part in ending violence by sharing love and kindness,” the group added.
Last year, leader of BTS RM whose real name is Kim Nam-joon spoke about self-acceptance and self-love regardless of their skin color or gender identity in a speech at the UN General Assembly.
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