When someone
speaks up.
Listen without blame. Protect choice. Turn awareness into responsibility.
16+ · Fictional adult characters · 5–8 minutes + discussionA response can make a difference.
Alex speaks to Sam after an unwanted sexual experience. Later, youth worker Noor explains support options. No assault is shown. This fictional story is not a reconstruction of the Cornell case or any real person’s experience.
Captioned photo-based video with gentle camera motion; no audio. AI-generated adult characters reused from the reference scenario. Choices in the video are illustrative.
Read the video transcript
WHEN SOMEONE SPEAKS UP
A response can make a difference.
A fictional story about listening, choice and responsibility.
No assault is shown.
01 / LISTEN WITHOUT BLAME
Alex: “Something sexual happened that I did not agree to.”
“I’m worried people will blame me.”
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
Sam: “Thank you for telling me.”
“You do not have to explain more than you want.”
Listen. Do not interrogate or blame.
02 / OFFER CHOICE
Alex: “I feel safe here, but I don’t know what to do.”
Sam: “Would you like quiet company, some space, or help finding support?”
03 / CHALLENGE HARMFUL COMMENTS
Later, a peer says: “People who drink should expect trouble.”
Sam: “Drinking does not make someone responsible for another person’s violence.”
PROTECT PRIVACY
Sam challenges the comment without sharing Alex’s story.
If direct challenge feels unsafe, ask a facilitator for help.
Support does not require confrontation.
04 / EXPLAIN CONFIDENTIALITY
Alex asks youth worker Noor: “Who will hear about this?”
Noor: “Before you share, I’ll explain what stays private and when I may need to share a safety concern.”
05 / OFFER SUPPORT OPTIONS
Alex: “I’m not ready to make a formal report.”
Noor: “We can look at support options while you decide. Would you like information or help contacting a service?”
06 / FOLLOW THROUGH
A caring organisation needs clear responsibilities.
Name a support contact. Explain the process.
Agree a safe follow-up, if wanted.
YOUR NEXT STEP
What could your school or organisation do to make speaking up safer?
Explore the interactive choices.
safe-steps.eu/courses/
SAFE-STEPS · VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE
Listen without blame. Protect choice. Take responsibility.
Fictional training story · AI-generated photographic scenes
Captioned video · No audio
EUROPEAN UNION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Project 2025-1-SE02-KA210-YOU-000350432
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
What would you say next?
Take the role of Sam, a supportive peer, then Noor, a youth worker. Explore six moments: a disclosure, offering choices, harmful comments, confidentiality, support options and organisational follow-through.
Content note: discussion of sexual violence without graphic details. No personal disclosure is required. You may observe, skip or pause at any time.
Optional AR-style camera overlay, matching the reference scenario. It does not use marker or spatial tracking. The page does not record or upload camera images. Use while stationary in a safe training space.
Facilitator notes and local preparation
Before the session: verify a local support service, age eligibility, language and accessibility options, contact methods and the organisation’s actual safeguarding and confidentiality procedure. Do not use real disclosures in role play.
Roles: Alex (adult seeking support), Sam (peer), Noor (youth worker), an unnamed peer making a harmful comment. No participant needs to play the person affected. Reading, observing and skipping are equally valid.
Run: watch the video, explore the choices, then discuss one practical organisational improvement. The activity is educational, not an investigation or a substitute for specialist support. Avoid asking for details of a real incident.
If a participant discloses: stop the exercise, offer a private and appropriate response, explain your actual safeguarding limits, and follow the relevant local procedure. Do not promise absolute secrecy or a particular outcome.
Safety: this scenario assumes there is no immediate danger. If urgent danger is present, seek appropriate local emergency assistance. Respect wishes wherever possible and explain any required information sharing.
Community responsibility: challenge victim-blaming safely, protect privacy, make support and reporting routes accessible, name a responsible contact and explain realistic next steps.
Format: photo-based captioned video and a camera-overlay prototype, not spatially tracked AR. The same choices work without a camera. The page collects no responses.