As we enter adulthood, we realize that we become less and less sympathetic towards the problems of youth only because we are now constantly bogged by ‘bigger’ problems at workplace and financial debt. If you think about it, we all seem to have dilemmas at every stage of life and they were all big to us at that time even if they would later on seem petty many years down the road.
Today, over 20 percent of youth have faced some sort of bullying or abandonment before the age of 18. With this, the controversial yet empowering Grammy-winning singer Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta launched the Born This Way Foundation named after her hit album and single of the same name.
Gaga has always been an avid supporter of gay rights and issues affecting the youth. With this project, she hopes to establish a standard of bravery and kindness as well as a worldwide community that protects and nurtures others in the face of bullying and abandonment.
She was especially driven to make this project work after the suicide of bullied 14-year-Jamey Rodemeyer who made a video called “It Gets Better” before the latter took his own life which shocked America.
She tweeted: “The past days I’ve spent reflecting, crying, and yelling, I have so much rage. It is hard to feel like when cruelty takes someone’s life.”
For now, Born This Way Foundation will be working along side the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation as well as The California Endowment which focuses on the empowerment of youth.
According to the proclamation, the foundation will focus on “youth empowerment and equality by addressing issues like self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development and will utilize digital mobilization as one of the earnings to make positive change.
“All three will focus on using the internet to promote awareness and change as. Kudos to celebrities who use their fame to reach out to others and give a voice to those who have been silenced!“
