"The Power of Place" was created in response to the needs of young people living in rural areas in Lithuania and Spain (young people who often have limited access to non-formal education activities, democratic participation opportunities, the usage public space and access to intercultural experiences). The project aimed to offer these young people meaningful opportunities to take part in shaping their communities while strengthening their sense of belonging both locally and at the European level. The overall aim of the project was to promote active youth participation in democracy through creative placemaking initiatives, with a strong emphasis on culture, arts and shared European values. Through intercultural learning and direct collaboration between Lithuanian and Spanish youth, the project sought to create a bridge between everyday community life and wider European identity. To support this aim, the project focused on seven key objectives, which guided every activity, from the local actions in villages and towns, to the international youth exchange. 1. Increasing youth engagement in local democracy: the project wanted young people to take an active role in shaping their towns and villages by identifying public spaces, discussing local needs and planning improvements. Examples include the creation of youth spaces in Valkininkai, Matuizos and Merkinė and the "Banks that Inspire" activity in Caspe. These activities helped young people see that they can influence real change in their communities. 2. Promoting civic awareness and democratic values: young people learned about decision-making by meeting with local decision makers, by preparing questions for them and presenting their ideas. These meetings helped to understand how local institutions work and why youth involvement matters. Many participants were speaking to decision makers for the first time in their lives, which directly supported the project’s civic participation goals. 3. Enhancing intercultural learning and appreciation of diversity: intercultural dialogue was another central goal in this project. For many participants aged 13–17, this was their first-ever international experience and their first encounter with peers from another country. Through the youth exchange in Marcinkonys (and later in Caspe which was financed by the Spanish NA) collaborative workshops, outdoor learning and cross-country preparation meetings, young people developed empathy, curiosity and respect for cultural differences. 4. Fostering creativity through arts and culture: placemaking initiatives combined creativity with community engagement. Young people expressed themselves artistically through: painting and redesigning youth spaces, artistic benches in Caspe (Banks that Inspire), creative workshops during the youth exchange, photography and videos. These artistic expressions helped them to explore identity, emotions and local heritage. 5. Strengthening community cohesion: the project sought to bring people together- youth, families, cultural centre staff, community members and decision makers. Community-supported donations of materials for creation off youth spaces in Lithuanian and activities such as opening events of Open Youth Spaces in Lithuania or the Summer Local Street Market event in Caspe created a sense of community cohesion, shared responsibility and solidarity around youth initiatives. 6. Highlighting and practicing European values: democracy, equality, inclusion and solidarity were integrated into every phase of this project. Through teamwork, shared decision-making and intercultural collaboration, young people practiced these values in a practical and relatable way rather than only learning about them theoretically. 7. Empowering youth leadership: finally, the project aimed to help young people to step into leadership roles. This included youth leaders supporting facilitation, younger participants taking responsibility for tasks and groups independently planning and implementing local actions. These experiences strengthened their confidence, initiative and sense of agency. To summarise, by combining placemaking, intercultural learning, civic participation and creative expression "The Power of Place" encouraged young people to become active contributors to their communities. The objectives set in the application were met through concrete, youth-led activities that helped participants grow personally, socially and civically while making a visible impact on their local communities.