Not every situation of harassment begins with an obvious act of aggression. Sometimes it starts with comments, controlling behaviour, exclusion or attitudes that become normalised far too quickly. Then, they grow. They escalate. And they can develop into digital violence, sextortion or abuse that many people do not know how to report.
This reality gave rise to Pantalla Morada, a project developed by CIPFP Misericordia in Valencia and awarded second prize in the 5th edition of the VET Knowledge Transfer Awards, promoted by FPEmpresa and Grupo Esprinet. It is a simple, replicable technological solution designed to provide immediate support, information and guidance in situations of harassment or violence.
The project, led by Lucía García, a tutor at the school and team leader, begins with a direct question: “Have you ever experienced any form of harassment?” From there, the team raises a reflection that connects with a reality familiar to many young people: “Perhaps you haven’t, but someone close to you almost certainly has.”
Pantalla Morada was created precisely to respond to the silence that so often surrounds victims. As the team states in its presentation, “violence has neither age nor gender”, although it particularly affects women, who in many cases remain silent “out of fear or because they cannot find an appropriate system for reporting it”.
A simple device for an urgent need
The proposal consists of an interactive screen installed in private and discreet spaces, designed so that anyone can access information and support without exposing themselves or attracting attention. In the solution proposed by the school, the screens would be installed in toilets, personal spaces where victims can interact with the device with greater privacy.
“With this project, we prioritise the victim’s privacy,” the team explains in the presentation video, adding that the screens would be located in “personal spaces that do not attract attention”.
One of Pantalla Morada’s main strengths is its feasibility. The project does not rely on major infrastructure or inaccessible materials, but rather on resources commonly available in educational environments. The team summarises it as follows: “Using only materials we can find in classrooms, we have easily managed to develop and propose a project that is entirely feasible to manufacture in educational institutions.”
The prototype consists of a Raspberry Pi board, an external touchscreen and its power supply. It also considers the possibility of integrating all the components into a single chassis manufactured using 3D printing. On the software side, it includes a multifunction interface designed in accordance with current regulations and capable of being updated in response to possible legislative changes.
“The hardware and software in our project are extremely simple and allow for rapid adaptation to any environment,” the team explains, also highlighting the possibility of continuously updating the tool as legislation changes.
Technology, privacy and inclusion
Pantalla Morada not only aims to provide an immediate response, but also to create a useful long-term resource. The team has developed a prototype to demonstrate that the solution can be implemented by following simple instructions and adapted to different environments, ranging from educational institutions to companies, shopping centres and other places where situations of abuse may occur.
Accessibility is also part of the design. The interface is intended to be easy for anyone to use and features large text to make it more accessible to people with visual impairments. In this way, the project connects violence prevention with inclusion and equal access to information.
The initiative also gives female students at the school a leading role. The team proposes that the assembly and installation of the screens be carried out by them, as well as the training sessions explaining how the system works across the school’s different vocational fields. This decision reinforces the project’s value within an awards programme that seeks to promote greater female participation in technical and technological fields.
In the team’s own words, Pantalla Morada aims to take “a small but important step in this fight”. The phrase captures the essence of the project: it is not presented as a single solution to a complex problem, but as a practical, feasible and accessible tool that can make it easier for people to ask for help.
The project focuses particularly on SDG 5, related to gender equality, while also contributing to other goals such as reduced inequalities, sustainable communities, responsible consumption, and peace, justice and strong institutions.
