‘I am somebody’: Street-smart youth take their declaration to the UN

When Samantha Richards and Angela Hifume walked into the Hall of Flags at United Nations Headquarters last week, they carried more than a folder of paper. They carried the voices of hundreds of street-connected children who had never expected anyone to listen.The two young leaders, both alumnae of Street Child United (SCU), were presenting the United Declaration of the Street Child World Cup 2026 – a document built around football, and around the campaign message “I Am Somebody”.A pitch, not a pity partyMs. Richards grew up navigating difficulties at home that took a toll on her mental health and left her, at times, in risky situations.Football changed that trajectory. “Growing up, I had some difficulties at home,” she said. “But football gave me friendships, leadership skills, and an outlet to speak up.”Through SCU she met other footballers chasing an education and followed them – becoming the first in her family to earn a college degree. “Sport is a catalyst for mental health advocacy, and it’s ok to speak up when you’re struggling, just like I did,” she said.Ms. Hifume’s route to New York started in the Philippine foster care system, where isolation bred sadness and loneliness. ...