The Body Shop Is Helping This Teen Nonprofit Founder Fight Bullying. Find Out How! 

When she was just 16 years old, Emily-Anne Rigal, founder of the nonprofit organization WeStopHate, felt it was her duty to create a haven for teens being bullied. She had good reason to do so—she had suffered through bullying herself. “It took me a few years from when the bullying started to create WeStopHate because I needed some time to process and overcome it,” Rigal explains. “And when I started the organization, I was having a really hard time talking about what happened to me.” Realizing the impact she could have by sharing her experiences, Rigal put her insecurities aside to help other bullying victims in need of support.

WeStopHate is a protected online space—a forum for teens to speak out about bullying, connect with other victims, make friends, and heal. Before Rigal knew it, within a year of its launch, WeStopHate’s YouTube channel became a sensation. Teens and celebrities from around the world (including Lady Gaga) have sent in their own videos, each offering advice for coping with bullies and discovering confidence. Rigal’s social media movement has gotten a ton of well-deserved recognition including countless awards, like a spot on Newsweek’s “150 Most Fearless Women in the World” list, and a Teen Nick Halo Award.

In 2012 Jillian Carney, one of the organization’s team members, created the WeStopHate Club, with the idea of integrating clubs into schools around the country. The program is a hands-on, grassroots approach to help end the war on bullying by providing a support system and a place for teens to be themselves and make friends. “My biggest obstacle when I was being bullied in school, was not having friends,” Rigal says. “I’m in college now, but if I had a club like this in grade school, it would have made a huge difference. A lot of teens who are bullied feel like misfits. Our mission is to bring them together, so they can support one another and form meaningful friendships.” Rigal continues to work on expanding the Clubs effort, but says the program needs more funding to keep growing. Currently, WeStopHate has teamed up with The Body Shop Foundation to help raise money to support the growth of the Clubs. (The Foundation supports a rotating cast of charitable causes through the sale of products and other initiatives.) 

Until November 3, 100% of the profits for every The Body Shop Foundation Dragon Fruit Lip Butter ($6) sold will benefit the Foundation and three charities, one of which is WeStopHate. Customers can also cast a vote online for which of the three charities receives the majority of the funding—but more lip butter sold means more money for all! "I'm so grateful for this opportunity with The Body Shop Foundation and for Beautylish helping spread the word," Rigal explains.

To cast your vote for WeStopHate and buy the product, click here.

__Kit Rich is Los Angeles-based fitness trainer with endless exercise and nutritional know-how. Hollywood's hottest stars are addicted to Kit's unique, multi-disciplined approach that combines cardio, yoga, Pilates, and weight training. Kit's clients are immediately taken by her funny and honest approach to health and fitness. She treats her clients as she treats herself, "with a hard challenge, sensibility, sensitively, and a good laugh." Follow Kit on Twitter @kitrichfitness.