Ricky Martin Visits Syrian Refugees in Lebanon

On June 1, Latin music superstar and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Ricky Martin spent time getting to know Syrian children who have emigrated to Lebanon with their families and have been affected by Syria's crisis.

The singer shared several photos and a video of his time spent with the children on social media, as well as a message of the importance of trips like this.

"I have new Syrian friends in Lebanon. I truly admire their perseverance and spirit in spite of the hardships they are facing. More than a million Syrians have sought refuge in Lebanon since the start of the crisis and more than half of them are children. They shouldn't be forgotten. Proud to be a @UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador to help raise awareness for the #ChildrenofSyria," he wrote on social media.

Martin spent time listening to the children's stories, playing soccer and singing with them. He met with children in Zahleh and in the Minnieh informal settlement on the following day, on June 2.

Over 2.8 million children have been out of school in the region and have been forced to become breadwinners for their families and UNICEF has been working to provide caring and protective environments for them.

"The world must make greater efforts to ensure that these children are protected from exploitation and receive access to safe environments where they can learn and achieve their independence," he added in a statement.

Martin has been advocating for the safety and rights of children around the world since 2003, when he became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and has also used his celebrity status to spread the word about human trafficking with his Ricky Martin Foundation.

Martin shared a video of the experience on his Facebook account.