Our youth exchange project aimed to address the needs of participants, organizations, and communities regarding environmental awareness and active European citizenship. Participants wanted to deepen their understanding of ecology, exchange experiences with young people from other countries, learn non-formal approaches, and develop language skills. Organizations wanted to improve their work quality, attract new volunteers, and increase their presence in the community. Communities needed more environmental education, involvement in beneficial actions, and exchange of best practices. We named our project "ENCOURAGE" to promote active European citizenship and combine appreciation for nature with practical ecology. We aimed to engage 40 young people in environmental issues, promote unity and dialogue, emphasize empathy with members of the rural community, and focus on diversity. The project included 32 young people and 8 group leaders from four different countries and cultures. The project included non-formal education approaches such as Eco-Workshops and Eco-Videos, concrete acts such as greening and planting trees, and aimed to reduce man's negative effects on the world. The project outcomes will establish a long-term relationship between the young participants in the project and the residents of all involved countries.