Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin visited Syrian refugees in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on Thursday with UNICEF .

The world-renowned celebrity told The Associated Press that the word "refugee" has lost its value and that the international community needs to "open its heart."

Martin's personal charity and advocacy work has focused a great deal on human trafficking and child labor. He told AP that he was particularly moved by the experience of an 11-year-old refugee named Batoul, who is "working in agriculture, 12 hours a day. And she's getting paid with water."

"This is happening to our kids," he said. "This is happening to our future generation."

Martin is a father himself and has two twin boys, Matteo and Valentino. This isn't Martin's first visit to Lebanon. He has previously performed in Lebanon and has chosen the country as a vacation spot in the past.