The Act4Peace project was developed in response to the growing impact of armed conflicts, forced displacement, and social polarization across Europe and neighboring regions. Young people are increasingly exposed to the psychological, social, and political consequences of war, particularly in countries directly or indirectly affected by ongoing conflicts such as Ukraine and the broader Eastern Partnership region. Our partner organisations work closely with youth, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and young people with fewer opportunities. Through our daily youth work practice, we identified several urgent needs: 1. Limited understanding among young people of conflict prevention and peace-building mechanisms 2. Lack of practical skills in negotiation, dialogue facilitation, and non-violent communication 3. Insufficient awareness of post-conflict trauma and its long-term psychological effects 4. Growing polarization, intolerance, and misinformation in multicultural societies 5. Limited opportunities for disadvantaged youth to participate in international mobility and civic engagement At the same time, we recognized the strong potential of youth to act as promoters of peace, tolerance, and intercultural dialogue when equipped with appropriate competences and safe learning environments. Act4Peace was therefore designed as a non-formal educational response to these challenges, creating a space where young people from EU Member States and third countries not associated to the programme could meet, learn, exchange experiences, and jointly develop peace-building competences.