We wanted to carry out the Youth Exchange "Winds of Change" because we believe that this project could create bridges to solve some of the local youth problems. So, our goal with this project was: to promote active participation and opportunities for participation, leading to social inclusion of the youngsters from Alentejo region, in special from Alvito, where we developed the activities. In general, young people from this isolated region have a general lack of interest and involvement in the dynamic of the community, young people dont have so many opportunities or acess to information, so we wanted to use our knowledge and experiences from summer camps and from European activities that we participated, using non formal education methods, to inform, motivate to participation, create opportunities of youth participation and inclusion, educate to diversity and promote human rights, reducing the gap between our region, the capital of Portugal and Europe. We wanted to make all aware of a new perspective of the world and new opportunities for participation, by putting together young people from different cultures, disadvantaged, regions, backgrounds, ..., giving them the possibility of a first travel, sharing multinational rooms, making them presenting their countries according with their perspectives, sharing their point of view at the same time that they receive feedback and information from the others, crossing with team work and group dynamics; sharing experiences, opinions and points of view about the different themes of the project. With this project we wanted to create a to give some contribution to answer different needs: the young people involved and the partner organisation’s needs (and their target groups), the local (Municipalities, Juntas de Freguesia, schools and associations) and the international partners, connected with the issues tackled in this Exchange, concerning the promotion of inclusion and active citizenship trough educational and participative opportunities. The main and general objetives of our project, answering the needs were: a) empower youth, developing competences and promoting active citizenship; b) create inclusive societies, promoting social inclusion, intercultural tolerance and common European values as an answer to the new European realities; c) create and share opportunities for youngsters, building new educational local projects; d) enhance the youth sense of initiative. The fact that the Portuguese group was composed by participants from 2 different regions (Alentejo & Lisbon) had the goal of making all participants more aware about national different cultures, realities, perspectives, needs & diversity. In summary, the program was organised to contribute to the development of competences, empower, make participants more aware of the world of opportunities of European mobility programs, learning and participative possibilities, cultural diversity & inclusion. Expecting to be able to create “Winds of Change” and the seeds planted during the youth exchange on the fertile Alentejo land, would make possible new active and participative projects with young citizens available to go on the path of change in our region supported by EU values and opportunities.