The EVS project "West to East and Back" involved two volunteers from Portugal and it was the result of cooperation between the NGOs Teatro Metaphora (Portugal) and Center for European Initiatives (Ukraine). The project activities took place in the city of Sumy over the period of 6 months (01/01/2016 - 30/06/2016). The project reached its primary objective: to provide the volunteers the opportunity to learn basic entrepreneur skills, active citizenship, inclusion and participation, as well as acquire the sense of being non-formal ambassadors of the EU abroad. This project helped CEI become more institutionally sustainable and Europe-oriented during the times of the country transformation by introducing social entrepreneurship initiatives for the organization and the local community. CEI reinforced their relationships with local partners. Moreover, the organizations continue developing solidarity and cross border relationships between Ukrainian youth and their European neighbours through the continuation of partnership by developing projects together. The Portuguese volunteers conducted Portuguese language classes, promoted the ecological values through their environmental education project, shared the Portuguese culture through the cultural cuisine workshop, organized street campaigns (Random Acts of Kindness), developed along with other volunteers a social project "Humans of Sumy", supported the organization's website www.eu.sumy.ua, by creating a blog "Lost in Sumy". These projects had a wider impact since CEI will continue the initiatives, such as the Environmental Puppet Project and Random Acts of Kindness. The project made the volunteers gain new skills and knowledges which will help them increase chances at the labour market and provide good opportunities for career growth. Upon the return, one of the volunteers continues cooperation with Teatro Metaphora as a youth worker, being more prepared to respond future challenges connected with youth empowerment and inclusion.