Earth is our only home, yet increasing industrial activity, transport, and consumption continue to place significant pressure on natural resources and ecosystems. Climate change is no longer a future concern but a present reality, affecting biodiversity, public health, and overall quality of life across Europe. Extreme weather events, environmental degradation, and pollution increasingly influence daily life, especially for younger generations. Despite growing public discourse on sustainability, many young people remain insufficiently aware of how their everyday choices contribute to environmental impact. Simple actions such as waste separation, responsible consumption, sustainable mobility, and reuse practices are still not consistently applied. Convenience often outweighs sustainability, and environmentally responsible behaviour is not yet embedded in daily routines in many communities. Young people play a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable future. Through awareness raising, practical skill development, and active participation, they can become agents of change within their communities. This project responds to the need to strengthen young people’s understanding of sustainability not as an abstract concept, but as a set of daily habits directly linked to personal well-being, balance, and community resilience. At European level, the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) confirms that climate action remains uneven across countries, with varying performance in greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, energy use, and climate policy (https://ccpi.org/). In parallel, recent data from the European Environment Agency reveal major disparities in municipal waste recycling across Europe. In 2023, recycling rates ranged from 69% in top-performing countries to only 12% in Romania. Among the partner countries, Romania, Cyprus, and Greece recycled less than 20% of municipal waste, indicating a clear need to strengthen youth awareness and practical engagement in recycling and circular economy practices (https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/waste-recycling-in-europe). Despite strategic progress, Italy’s key sustainability challenge is translating policies into everyday practices, especially in waste management, circular economy and youth engagement, while social inequalities and energy poverty limit inclusive participation in the green transition (https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/countries/italy). Furthermore, in Hungary, weak implementation of waste prevention and circular economy practices highlights the need to strengthen young people’s engagement in conscious consumption and waste reduction at local level (https://tinyurl.com/4wc78yj8). To confirm that these challenges are also present at local level, the participating organisations from Greece, Italy, Romania, Hungary, and Cyprus conducted informal discussions and reflection sessions between August and October 2025 with more than 55 young people aged 18–25. The outcomes revealed that sustainable behaviours are not yet part of young people’s everyday lives. Around three quarters of participants reported that they do not regularly sort waste, while more than half stated that they do not consciously apply environmentally friendly practices. A significant proportion also showed limited interest in climate change topics and did not associate sustainability with personal well-being, mental balance, or quality of life. These findings demonstrate a clear need for non-formal, experience-based learning approaches that help young people understand the impact of individual choices and connect sustainability with everyday life, health, and personal balance. The project programme is designed as a direct response to these needs, starting with awareness, daily habits, and personal balance, and progressing towards practical sustainability actions and youth-led initiatives. Through non-formal, experiential, and intercultural learning, the youth exchange aims to empower young people to adopt sustainable lifestyles, apply practical skills in their communities, and contribute to long-term behavioural change and more resilient local environments. AIM To raise awareness of climate change and promote environmentally sustainable and responsible daily habits among young people, by encouraging conscious decision-making and balanced lifestyles, while strengthening social inclusion of youth with fewer opportunities. OBJECTIVES 1. To increase participants’ knowledge of climate change, its causes and consequences, and sustainability challenges in the participating countries. 2. To introduce the 5R principles of waste management and other sustainable practices through non-formal and practical activities. 3. To strengthen awareness of the link between personal balance, conscious choices, and sustainable lifestyles. 4. To empower young people to act as agents of change by developing realistic and concrete action plans for sustainable behaviour.