The SEED project (https://fack-ev.com/seed/) aimed to empower rural youth from Germany, Italy and Lithuania to engage in democratic processes at local and European levels. The core objectives were: - To raise awareness about democratic values, equality, and non-discrimination. - To strengthen young people's critical thinking and civic responsibility. - To create inclusive spaces for dialogue and political participation. - To improve young people's ability to organise events, express opinion, and advocate. - To connect youth from Germany, Lithuania, and Italy through shared experiences of democratic action. Locally, it aimed to respond to specific problems: the absence of youth voices in political discourse, lack of intergenerational dialogue, and the tendency of young people to leave their regions due to perceived lack of opportunity. The youth exchange “SeeDemocracy” and local/follow-up activities were designed to support these objectives, equipping young people to become local changemakers, foster understanding of EU values, and build transnational networks of democratic engagement.