“Welcome to MySide” is Erasmus Plus - KA1 Youth Exchange project that aims to activate youth initiative and level of involvement in different societal activities, motivating them to take active position of life. This project helps young people to understand different culture, to develop their European Citizenship awareness and to be more conscious of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Project was implemented by Rundale Municipality (LV) in cooperation with Angiari Municipality (IT). Project participants – 20 youngsters from Angiari Municipality (IT) and 23 participants from Rundale Municipality (LV). Age 15-25. Main occupation – pupils, students, NGO representatives, active youth members. The project from the very beginning was designed by project participants, starting from their ideas and needs. From the project beginning both groups of youngsters were working on planning project activities in details. All project activities were organized and implemented by participants. During project two types of activities were implemented: Advance Planning Visit (24-26.11.2015.) where representatives of both youth groups (Rundale – LV and Angiari – IT) met together in Rundale to discuss preparatory activities of the project, project activity plan, methods, visited the places where participants were during the exchange activities in order to verify the protection and safety strategies, to evaluate possible risks of difficulties what might occur during the project activities. During 6 days of Youth Exchange in Rundale (6.-11.01.2016.), 43 young people (Latvian and Italian) youngsters purposefully worked according to main topics of activities – their personal, local and European identity, cultural differences, active role and attitude of youth regarding to place of living, environment, healthy lifestyle. Each day of the project was organized on different themes: 1st day – FAMILIARIZATION (Gettin’ involved!) Discussions about project course. Introduction activities. Discussion about stereotypes – typical Latvian, typical Italian. Meeting with representatives of Rundale Municipality and discussion on youth initiative, participation and involvement in different societal processes. 2nd day – MySide (For clean ENVIRONMENT!) Presentations on living environment. Discussion about environmental problems, active role and attitude of youth regarding to environment. Visiting Svitene Manor House – creating video reportage about future development of the object. 3rd day – GO OUTDOOR! (I create MY life by MYself!) Discussions about healthy lifestyle, setting and achieving individual goals, team activities. Indoor sport activities. Visiting Rundale Palace Museum in order to introduce to history of Rundale, 18th century lifestyle, culture. 4th day – PARTICIPATE! (Look! Think! Share!... and BE ACTIVE!) Cooking activities - typical Latvian and Italian dishes. Presenting video reportages about Svitene Manor House, finding solutions to develop this object. A list of recommendations was prepared to submit local municipality. 5th day – SEE and FEEL! (Only being HERE and NOW you can feel what REALY happens around you) Visiting and getting introduced to capital of Latvia – Riga. Orienteering and team activities. 6th day – SPEAK! ( We have something to say!) Collecting and documenting the experience gained during the project activities. Dissemination conference (participating youth representatives, active members of local society, representatives of municipality) to introduce them with main reflections, insights gained during the project activities. All the project activities were planned and organized by youngsters of both partnering municipalities, according to themes chosen by themselves, following skills, knowledges and competences were facilitated: • Awareness of personal, local, European identity, cultural awareness and expression • Better knowledge of the other culture, healthy lifestyle, local cultural realities • Fostered understanding about active role in surrounding environment, local initiatives • Developed following participants’ competences: mutual communication in foreign language, practical management skills – planning, organising project activities, problem solving and analytical skills, as well as sense of initiative, interpersonal and social competences, intercultural competences. All the gained experience during the project activities has created stable background for further mutual cooperation in different levels: youngsters – youngsters (LV – IT), municipality – municipality (IT – LV), youngsters – municipality (LV – LV, IT – IT). All the above mentioned gained skills and knowledge will facilitate the individual self-confidence, initiatives, person competitiveness in each participants’ future life.