Together with Mel Young, he founded the idea of the Homeless World Cup to create a lifetime opportunity for people experiencing homelessness. Harald and Mel organised the first Homeless World Cup in 2003 in Harald's hometown Graz, in Austria. Since then the movement has grown to impact many more people around the world and his legacy is bound to continue for years to come.
For his long-term commitment to social justice, Harald Schmied in 2017 received a great honour: the Gold Medal of Service of the Republic of Austria.
HFCA will leave you for now with Harald's final message “My dear friends! Yesterday night I closed my eyes forever and I started a new journey. Thank you all for your attendance and support. Take the grief as energy, not as blockade. Feel love, not fear, loneliness and despair.”
