The general aim of the Balkaniti exchange was to include, connect and empower groups of young people with fewer opportunities from Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia and North Macedonia through intercultural exchange and dialogue based on practical research of the cultural heritage of the Western Balkans in a way that actively involves the local community where the exchange takes place (Kalavat, Stara Planina). The program enabled the practical and experiential acquisition of lifelong learning skills through research, reflection and promotion of European values of cooperation, solidarity and intercultural dialogue. Through non-formal learning and peer education, creative techniques for making a "textile map of identity", knitting and felting wool, exchanging with the local population and experiencing camping in nature, participants acquired: - knowledge of key theoretical concepts related to intercultural dialogue, - values and attitudes based on respect for diversity, inclusion and human rights, - tools and techniques for analyzing, responding to and preventing discrimination based on prejudices, - creative and practical skills that support young people's active engagement in their personal lives, in small groups and local communities, allowing for expressing opinions and practical action. The methods used respected the participants' personal experiences, emphasizing exchange based on traditions that still live in their families and local communities (getting to know cultural heritage through customs, handiwork, oral tradition, storytelling etc.). The creative expression did not require pre-developed and special talents but skills learned on the exchange with the help of "mentors" from the local environment and peer educators. The evaluation showed that the outdoor learning method was recognized as the greatest advantage of the exchange. Different styles and dynamics of life, staying in a rural environment, and contact with the local population, for participants represent an escape from the comfort zone, which most saw as an opportunity for self-development. Time spent in nature is perceived as a means of learning and a source of knowledge. "Physically demanding activities" (hiking, taking care of the tent, walking to the nearest village, building a dam...) were recognized as an important aspect of the exchange, by which the participants have become more self-confident, more responsible and more able to cope with challenges. Staying in a camp with a large number of people and a shared space for work and leisure has proved to be a powerful tool for developing social skills. Participants report that they developed: learning from others and learning with others, adaptability, patience in communication as prevention of conflict, time management, tolerance, intercultural understanding, dialogue skills, and other competencies that belong to a broad spectrum of transferable skills and competencies for lifelong learning. The exchange program has encouraged positive changes in participants' behaviour through saving resources, reducing energy consumption and waste, and choosing sustainable options when it comes to food (food from local producers) and has sparked awareness about the importance of small, sustainable rural communities. The choice of accommodation and working in a camp allowed for changes in behaviour related to personal preferences, cultural values, consumer habits, and lifestyle. The exchange was a place for confronting personal stereotypes and prejudices about neighbours. For all participants, this was a particularly valuable experience because they come from countries that once went to war and came together to talk about culture and tradition, whose differences are often misused and emphasized as a reason for conflict. The evaluation shows that the participants' particularly valuable experience was the friendship and cooperation they established with peers from other countries of the former Yugoslavia. The current political climate of hatred and mistrust was demystified by real experience on the exchange. Even more important is that participants emphasize that this is an impression they want to share with their friends at home. With this exchange, we have created a safe and inclusive space in which girls and young men from different social groups exchanged experiences of how they perceive the challenges they face, what they would like to do about it, in what direction they want their societies to move in the future, and how that future can be effectively built.