From invisible to Olympic torchbearer.
When 21-year-old Hibatallah “Hiba” Najid carried the Olympic Flame through the streets of Milan, she was walking for every child who has ever felt excluded.
Hiba was nine when her family arrived in Italy from Morocco. The change was huge, and the stereotypes and hardships she faced led to her feeling like she didn’t fit in.
“When I arrived in Italy, I felt invisible, out of place, without space,” says Hiba.
It was finding support through Save the Children’s Punto Luce (“Point of Light”) centre that helped her feel like she belonged.
“I met Save the Children's staff at Punto Luce, who welcomed me and made me feel at home."
A safe space to learn, play and belong
Save the Children’s “Point of Light” centres are free educational spaces in underserved Italian neighbourhoods. Children and adolescents can come after school to get homework support, take part in sport, music or art, and spend time with trusted adults and friends.
For Hiba, the Punto Luce centre in Milan’s Giambellino district was the first place she truly felt welcomed in Italy. It’s where she discovered a passion for soccer, developed the confidence to speak up, and started to imagine new possibilities for her future.
“I learned not to give up even when everything seemed difficult: the Italian language, school, soccer where I was the only girl on a boys' team.”
Today, Hiba plays soccer, coaches children in sport, studies political science at university in Milan, and supports other women on their empowerment journeys.
Carrying the flame for inclusion
Hiba was chosen as a torchbearer for peace for Save the Children during the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Hiba carried the flame along Viale Beatrice d’Este, before it continued toward Milan’s Giuseppe Meazza Stadium for the opening ceremony.
For Hiba, sport and “Point of Light” have been powerful drivers of change – and the Olympic Torch was a chance to show what happens when someone is given a real chance to belong.
“It's a great emotion for me to be here today and demonstrate that if someone has faith in you, you can also learn to believe in yourself and become a light for others,” she said.
Hiba says it’s her commitment to inclusion that guides her: “I know what it means to feel out of place and how important it is to create spaces where everyone can feel welcome, as I did at Save the Children's Punto Luce.
Hiba is determined to use what she learnt at Punto Luce to shine a light for others.
“I strive every day to be an example to those who look up to me, turning difficulties into opportunities … On the stretch of road I walked with the Olympic Flame in my hand, I brought with me all the girls, boys, and young people who need an opportunity to simply discover what they can become.”
Photos: Gianfranco Ferraro / Save the Children Australia.