The project "Youth in Wonderland – Rural Voices in Action" empowers young people from the rural partner regions of Kohren-Sahlis in Germany and Montottone in Italy through intercultural exchange and creative expression in the form of theater. The participants collaboratively develop and stage a play that reflects their own realities and self-selected relevant topics. The aim is to foster social, intercultural, and creative skills, strengthen their sense of self-efficacy and participation, and cultivate tolerance towards people from different countries and cultural backgrounds. The project provides a safe space where young people can experiment, break down prejudices, and develop new perspectives. As access to non-formal education and international projects is very limited in rural areas, the project deliberately creates low-threshold participation opportunities, particularly for young people with fewer opportunities. The intensive collaboration strengthens local youth work within and between the partner municipalities, enabling participants to actively engage in their communities. In the long term, the project contributes to making European values tangible, fostering cooperation between formal and non-formal educational institutions, and providing young people with sustainable participation opportunities—both through artistic expression and the social and intercultural skills acquired during the youth exchange.