FOOTPRINTS 2.0 aims to strengthen youth work practice by empowering young people to become environmentally aware, socially engaged, and confident actors in their communities. The project responds to a growing gap observed by youth organisations across Europe: while many young people are concerned about climate change and social injustice, they often lack practical tools, safe learning spaces, and supportive guidance to turn concern into meaningful action. From a youth work perspective, FOOTPRINTS 2.0 addresses this gap through non-formal education, experiential learning in nature, and intercultural cooperation. The core objective of the project is to support young people in developing key competences for sustainable living and active citizenship. Through an eight-day Youth Exchange in the rural region of Serra de Estrella, Portugal, participants live and learn together in a natural environment that becomes an educational setting in itself. The project combines environmental education, adventure-based learning, and structured reflection to help young people reconnect with nature, with themselves, and with others. This holistic approach reflects good youth work practice by addressing cognitive, emotional, physical, and social dimensions of learning. A central objective is to strengthen environmental awareness and responsibility in a concrete and accessible way. Participants engage in hands-on activities such as biodiversity exploration, conservation actions, sustainable cooking, and nature-based workshops that translate abstract environmental challenges into lived experience. From a youth work perspective, this supports learning by doing, critical reflection, and the development of sustainable habits that young people can realistically apply in their daily lives and local contexts. At the same time, FOOTPRINTS 2.0 priorities inclusion, participation, and wellbeing. The project is designed as a safe and supportive space where young people from different backgrounds, including those with fewer opportunities, can actively participate according to their needs and strengths. Through non-formal methods such as reflection circles, role-playing, outdoor challenges, and cooperative tasks, participants develop transversal competences including teamwork, communication, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and self-confidence. These competences are essential for youth workers seeking to support young people’s personal development and social inclusion. Adventure-based learning plays a key role in supporting resilience, initiative, and leadership. By engaging in physical and social challenges in a natural setting, participants are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, manage uncertainty, and rely on collective problem-solving. This strengthens self-efficacy and supports youth work objectives related to empowerment, employability, and lifelong learning. Living together in a rural environment also invites reflection on alternative lifestyles, community values, and slower, more sustainable rhythms of life, offering a meaningful counterbalance to urban pressure and digital overload. Another key objective of the project is to foster active citizenship and meaningful participation. Young people are involved as co-creators throughout the project cycle, from preparation and activity design to documentation, dissemination, and follow-up. They actively reflect on their learning using the Youthpass process and share their experiences through creative outputs and local activities after the exchange. From a youth work perspective, this strengthens ownership, motivation, and the capacity of young people to act as multipliers within their communities. FOOTPRINTS 2.0 also contributes to strengthening a sense of European belonging and intercultural understanding. Through shared living, intercultural activities, and everyday cooperation, participants experience diversity as a resource rather than a barrier. They develop openness, cultural curiosity, and respect for different perspectives, reinforcing core European values such as solidarity, tolerance, and democratic participation. These experiences prepare young people for future mobility, cooperation, and engagement at European level. In the long term, the project aims to build lasting connections between young people and youth organisations across countries. By strengthening youth work competences, sharing methodologies, and nurturing transnational partnerships, FOOTPRINTS 2.0 lays the groundwork for future eco-social initiatives and collaborative youth projects. Ultimately, the project seeks to demonstrate that youth work can offer young people not only awareness, but agency: the confidence, skills, and support to act together for a more sustainable, inclusive, and connected Europe.