The creation of the ‘Sustainergy’ project arose from the identification of a twofold problem that particularly affects young people and rural communities: low energy literacy and heavy dependence on non-renewable energy in less developed areas. After reflecting on this reality in Freixo de Espada à Cinta, the young people of the promoting association Juventude à Cinta concluded that the lack of knowledge about energy efficiency and sustainable alternatives, combined with the scarce availability of affordable renewable solutions in rural areas, compromises the well-being of communities and limits their ability to keep up with the energy transition. Feeling the need to act, they decided to design a project that would promote learning, critical reflection and practical action on the energy future, not only in their territory but also in connection with other young Europeans. To this end, Juventude à Cinta established contacts with international partners who share this concern, seeking to bring together organisations with different levels of experience and complementary contexts. The final partnership includes associations from Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Spain and Serbia, as well as Portugal. The inclusion of these partners ensures a diversity of perspectives: from organisations and informal groups with experience in environmental education and youth citizenship to local public entities that directly face the challenges of sustainability in rural areas. This combination ensures a balanced approach, in which the most experienced support those who are just starting out on their European journey, and everyone contributes to a richer and more comprehensive collective reflection. The project is based on the conviction that young people are the main agents of change when it comes to energy habits and promoting a more sustainable society. Sustainergy will therefore work towards four key objectives: (1) increasing young people's energy literacy by promoting understanding of energy sources and the impact of daily consumption; (2) encouraging energy efficiency and responsible consumption practices that can be applied in everyday life and replicated in communities; (3) valuing the role of rural communities in the energy transition, highlighting their difficulties and potential; and (4) developing social, intercultural and active citizenship skills, preparing young people to become multipliers of the knowledge they have acquired. Over ten days, between 20 and 29 May 2026, in Freixo de Espada à Cinta, 42 participants from Portugal, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Spain and Serbia will engage in carefully designed non-formal education activities that promote critical reflection, creativity and practical action. These include simulations, debates, role-plays, interactive games and moments of collective creation. Through these methodologies, young people will be encouraged to understand the challenges of energy in multiple dimensions – environmental, social, economic and political – and to co-create solutions adapted to the current European context. One of the highlights of the project will be the construction of the Energy Diary, a final digital tool where young people, in intercultural teams, will record reflections, challenges and energy commitments, creating an accessible and inspiring resource for other communities. At the same time, the project will use the Factory of Learning methodology as a Youthpass tool, ensuring that participants document their learning on a daily basis and recognise the evolution of their skills. This structure will not only enhance the individual journey of each young person, but also transform the experience into a conscious and transferable process for the future. The relevance of ‘Sustainergy’ is thus based on a concrete response to the needs identified by young people: the urgency of increasing knowledge about energy and sustainability, the need to involve rural communities in the energy transition, and the importance of empowering young people to act as active European citizens. At the same time, the project is fully in line with the priorities of the Erasmus+ programme and the European Union, namely climate action, environmental sustainability and the promotion of active citizenship. In short, we believe that the development of “Sustainergy” will have a highly positive impact by raising critical awareness, promoting behavioural change and strengthening personal and collective skills. More than just an exchange, this project is an investment in training conscious young people who are capable of contributing to a more sustainable, inclusive Europe that is prepared for the energy challenges of the future.