Mel Young
Mel Young is recognized as one of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. He is president and co-founder of the Homeless World Cup.
It was in Cape Town, that Mel and Austrian born Harald Schmied attempted to invent an international language to enable homeless people to communicate with each other around the world. When they realised one already existed – football – the Homeless World Cup was born. The first tournament was held in Austria in 2003 with 18 nations growing to 56 nations at the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup.
The Homeless World Cup is creating a level of change never before seen by social inclusion initiatives. More than 94% of participants say that it has a positive impact on their lives and over 70% make significant changes in their lives as a direct result of their involvement, such as coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into homes, jobs, education, becoming coaches and play ers. It has triggered and supports grass roots football projects in over 60 nations involving over 30,000 players who are homeless in train ing for Milan 2009.
Mel started life as journalist. He co-founded The Big Issue in Scotland in 1993. He co-founded the International Network of Street Papers. He founded New Consumer magazine in 2003. He is the author of Goal: the story of the Homeless World Cup.
