The project FEST-IN –Living Roots, Digital Future stems from the shared commitment of the four partner organisations – Korè (Italy), Illipula (Spain), Nova Perspektiva (Serbia), and Bulgarani (Bulgaria) – to address concrete needs identified in their respective territories: the cultural disconnection of young people from their roots, territorial isolation and lack of expressive spaces, social and educational vulnerability, poor valorisation of intangible heritage in a contemporary key, and the digital gap in creative and communication skills. Starting from these challenges, the project aims to offer young people a meaningful opportunity to rediscover themselves through intercultural encounters, learning to reinterpret their cultural identity in a participatory, inclusive, and creative way. Non-formal education will be the core methodology of the project, based on direct experiences, shared reflections, and collaborative dynamics that stimulate personal initiative, peer learning, and active participation. Through a one-week international youth exchange in Enna (Sicily), participants will engage in a wide range of non-formal learning activities, including traditional music and dance workshops, creative craftsmanship, intercultural treasure hunts, origin theatre, participatory photography, digital storytelling, simulations, Open Space Technology, Six Thinking Hats, icebreakers, circle time, and peer education. Each day will be led by one of the national groups, who will propose activities inspired by their own cultural heritage, encouraging a genuine intercultural dialogue between traditions. From a youth work perspective, the main goal of the project is to guide young people through a transformative journey, allowing them to rediscover the value of their cultural roots and use them as a driving force to develop personal, social, and digital competences, while also strengthening their sense of belonging to a local and European community. Specifically, the project aims to: - Promote identity awareness and intercultural dialogue through artistic and creative activities (dance, theatre, music, photography, storytelling) that value local traditions as living tools for inclusion and communication. - Support social inclusion and active participation of young people with fewer opportunities, through an accessible, person-centred, and participatory educational approach. - Develop key competences that are useful in the participants’ educational and professional future: communication, creativity, initiative, critical thinking, collaboration, event planning, and digital production. - Strengthen digital skills and media literacy by involving participants in the creation of visual and narrative content (videos, podcasts, social media posts), equipping them with valuable tools for cultural promotion and civic engagement. - Stimulate youth empowerment and European citizenship, by making young people protagonists of the entire process: from co-designing activities, to organising local events after the exchange, and disseminating results in their communities. A key tool will be the Youthpass, which will be introduced from the beginning of the project and used throughout the exchange as a guide for recognising and reflecting on the competences acquired. Participants will be supported in completing and personalising their Youthpass, making it a valuable asset for their future paths in education, training, volunteering, or employment. The entire project is designed as an inclusive and transformative learning experience, enabling participants to discover the power of their cultural heritage, strengthen their skills, and become ambassadors of culture, inclusion, and active citizenship in their own communities. The experience gained will be used by participants to replicate local events, promote workshops in schools and youth centres, and engage as youth leaders in their own territories. FEST-IN is therefore a unique opportunity to strengthen European youth work, promote the valorisation of intangible cultural heritage, and support youth empowerment through innovative, inclusive, and sustainable practices.