Culture is the lifeblood of a vibrant society. Our creative expression helps define who we are, and helps us see the world through the eyes of others. However, our cultural environment is rapidly evolving and diversifying. Cross-border migration, the assertion of national and other minorities to a distinct cultural identity, the cultural effects of globalization, the increasing interdependence between all world regions, and the advancements of information and communication media have all contributed to the essential condition of cultural diversity in human society. More and more individuals are living in a “multicultural” normality and have to manage their own multiple cultural affiliations. In numerous conflicts and crises around the world, cultural heritage has increasingly become a symbolic front, mostly as a direct target for belligerents who use the destruction of culture as a means to foster violence and forcibly transform peoples’ identities. Images of such destruction have left deep scars in our collective memory as citizens of the world. Numerous resolutions adopted at international level already underline that destruction of cultural heritage poses a threat to cultural rights and that cultural heritage can be a tool for organised crime and financing of terrorism. Europe is at a particular point in history where the fear of the ‘other’ threatens to gain the upper hand and its welcome policy is largely being questioned. In this sense, this Youth Exchange aims to bring together young people with different cultural backgrounds in order to promote the discovery of new cultures and traditions, mutual understanding, intercultural dialogues, social inclusion, and active participation in society in the European Union. The national traditions and culture develop through the centuries are, for us, a powerful key that can make us relate with each other and promote mutual understanding. This project unfolded in Viana do Castelo, a place well known for its rich culture and traditions. By exploring and getting to know this local Portuguese city, we fostered the sharing of the folklore dances, music, traditions, and legends of the participant organizations' countries. With this, we intended to unleash individual passions for the different cultures while generating a common feeling of inclusion and breaking any kind of stereotype and communication barrier among people. In this sense, and in strong collaboration with the partner organizations, we built a robust mobility program that we believed would make a difference by providing relevant and practical knowledge to the European youth. The objectives of this youth exchange were: - To stimulate intercultural dialogue, tolerance, and social inclusion of people from different backgrounds; - To foster mutual understanding and cooperation between young people from different cultures and differently developed local areas; - To support cultural diversity in various local and national realities; - To stimulate young people's spirit of initiative, creativity, and active participation in society; - To develop a sense of belonging to the EU and its values; - To foster future cooperation among organizations; - To raise awareness about the Erasmus+ programme. With respect to the Erasmus+ and Key Action 1 objectives, this project focused on: - Obtaining a greater understanding of cultural diversity and the perception of each culture towards a common topic; - Expanding participants' contact networks, making new partnerships, and contributing to the further development of a sense of European citizenship and identity; - Creating hubs of collaboration and idea incubators among partners and organizations, empowering existing synergies, and developing new profitable ones.