“Sunset over Filiates” is a 10-day, youth-led Exchange in Filiates, Greece, co-created by young people from Greece, Latvia and Romania with the support of Municipality of Filiates. From a youth work perspective, our purpose is to make rural youth visible, skilled and connected, so participation becomes a habit, not a one-off trip. We combine non-formal learning with real community tasks: interviews and podcasts about village life, debates with the Mayor and vice-mayors, a by-the-river clean-up, three open intercultural nights in the square, and a public Erasmus+ Rural Youth Event designed and run by us. We want to reduce the “double barrier” faced by rural youth, geography and finances, by bringing Europe to Filiates and making the exchange genuinely accessible. Participation is zero-fee; the Students’ Residence provides safe accommodation and a local cook prepares balanced meals. Our approach uses simple English with visuals, mixed-country buddying, and flexible front-/back-stage roles so everyone can contribute with dignity. Our first objective is inclusion: at least half of the 30 participants are young people with fewer opportunities. We will remove practical obstacles (pre-financing travel where needed, tailored support plans) and aim for at least 80% to report reduced perceived barriers to future mobility and local participation. From a youth work angle, this means modelling “inclusion by design” that local groups can copy after we leave. Our second objective is competence development through non-formal learning. By doing interviews, debates, event production and media, we aim for an average 30% self-reported progress in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, intercultural cooperation and eco-habits. Each of us will build a small portfolio (podcast or reel, facilitation script, event run-of-show) mapped to Youthpass and the eight key competences. We introduce Youthpass on Day 2, reflect daily with our “textbook” journals, and finalise strong, evidence-based statements on Day 10. Our third objective is youth participation in local decision-making. We will turn the voices gathered on Day 3 into dialogue on Day 4 at town hall, then co-create a short “Filiates Youth Micro-Plan” with 3-5 feasible actions. The practice we want to prove is simple: youth speak with evidence, institutions listen in real time, and both sides agree small steps with owners and dates. Success means the plan is co-signed and at least one action is scheduled within three months. Our fourth objective is community co-creation and European connection. The Erasmus+ Rural Youth Event, the river clean-up and the three intercultural nights are open to residents of all ages. We target at least 200 locals engaged during the week, 70% positive feedback via quick QR cards, and a public “Village Hug” that celebrates belonging. For youth work, these are not shows but shared spaces where young and old act together, see European cooperation up close and feel proud of their place. Our fifth objective is sustainability and digital responsibility. We keep the exchange low-waste (refill points, no single-use plastics, vegetarian-forward menus), teach consent-based media, and publish an open “Erasmus+ Rural Youth Event Toolkit” with role cards, layouts, green and safety checklists that others can reuse. The Municipality will host a “Filiates Erasmus+ Stories” subpage with one alumni story per month for six months, keeping youth voices visible and practical resources one click away. We will monitor success with light tools fit for youth work: baseline/post surveys, daily reflection circles, artefact counts, local feedback and a small outcomes dashboard at +1, +3 and +6 months. Partners will mentor at least six alumni into next steps (local initiatives, ESC or new Erasmus+ actions) so learning becomes action at home. In short, we want this project to leave capacities, not just memories: rural youth who know how to organise, speak up and collaborate across borders; a municipality with ready-to-run participation formats; and a community that has tasted and wants more of youth-led European life in Filiates.