The main objective of the youth exchange entitled "Empowering youth for coastal areas sustainability" was to bring together young people from diverse backgrounds in France to raise their awareness of the challenges posed by climate change. Although global in nature, these challenges have tangible and direct consequences in the local territories of the young people involved in the project. Indeed, it is the younger generations who will bear the consequences of past and present political and economic decisions and will have to face them. Based on this observation, the project partners – from France, Italy, and Poland – wanted to develop an intercultural program focused on environmental commitment, European cooperation, and education for active citizenship. Water, as a vital and universal resource, was chosen as the central theme of the project. All partner countries have a coastline and access to the sea, but water also provides a relevant entry point for addressing a wide range of interconnected issues: social, environmental, democratic, and technological. Through this theme, the aim was more specifically to raise young people's awareness of social justice by questioning equitable access to water, encouraging them to reflect on governance systems and civic responsibilities in managing this resource, while inviting them to imagine innovative local solutions to these global challenges. Water thus served as an educational thread capable of sparking curiosity, dialogue, and engagement. Furthermore, the project responded to a concrete need identified in the field: many young people – especially those distant from decision-making bodies or from less privileged backgrounds – lack dedicated spaces to express themselves, debate, develop critical thinking, and interact with peers from other countries. By implementing this exchange project, the partners aimed to create a non-formal, supportive, and stimulating learning environment where participants could strengthen their self-confidence, improve their social, civic, and language skills, and open themselves to other cultures and perspectives, in a spirit of mutual respect and shared enrichment. One of the key goals of the project was also to bring young people closer to European issues by actively involving them in activities that reflect the decision-making processes of the European Union. Through participatory workshops, role-playing, and simulations of debates or votes inspired by EU institutions, the young participants gained a better understanding of participatory democracy mechanisms while connecting local water-related issues to broader EU environmental strategies. Finally, the project aimed to strengthen the relationships between partner organizations and to test innovative and transferable educational approaches focused on ecology, civic education, and inclusion. It fully aligned with the priorities of the Erasmus+ programme, particularly in terms of environmental sustainability, youth participation in democratic life, and the promotion of social inclusion. By fostering intercultural dialogue, solidarity among European youth, and learning through experience, this project laid the foundations for lasting and collective engagement towards a fairer, more united, and more environmentally respectful future.