We recently came across this video by poet Shane Koyczan and just had to share. It has gone viral in the past few weeks due to its powerful anti-bullying message. Shane was bullied growing up, too, so his message is even more powerful. As he told The Globe and Mail in 2011, “I got bullied a lot when I was a kid, and because of that I thought for the most part that I didn’t really have a childhood – I had to grow up so quick and there was no real enjoyment in that for me.”

Unfortunately, bullying is still a major problem in schools all around the world. We can all make a difference by pledging to not bully and to speak up when you see that someone is.

According to Wired Magazine, Shane kneads his experiences into powerful poetry. His piece about bullying is now a short animation. It rises above the bruises left by words and the hiding places pills can’t provide, all the way up to a place of beauty. The video is a collaborative piece, created using 20 second segments contributed by animators and artists. It will surely prompt reflection and discussion. It also promotes more formal anti-bullying efforts.

In terms of what he hopes people take away from his video, Shane told the Huffington Post, “Just that sense of connectivity. As much as you may feel alone in this, you’re really not. There’s people who go through this every day. In a lot of ways, there’s more of us than there are of them.”

Shane, born in Yellowknife and raised in Penticton, was even a part of the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010! We love to see Canadians making a difference in the world. Watch this video and share it with your friends.