V-TOOLS, Virtual Reality Applied to Social Innovation

Laura Hurtado on 29 May 2024

Project that combines technology and social innovation through immersive experiences with the aim of improving the lives of people and communities

Under the motto “If you don’t live it, you don’t feel it”, V-TOOLS uses virtual reality as a pedagogical tool to address social issues. The initiative mainly focuses on the prevention of cyberbullying and gender-based violence, with special attention to the dynamics generated among children, adolescents, and young people.

The organization conducts sessions in educational centers, targeting individuals aged 10 to 18 years old, where users put themselves in the shoes of people experiencing situations of violence, control, and discrimination. In the field of gender-based violence, for example, there are audiovisual capsules on topics such as jealousy, friendship, social networks, and sexual relationships. Regarding cyberbullying, the program addresses prejudice, diversity, and physical stereotypes, among other aspects.

V-TOOLS follows the quadruple helix model, a methodology based on close collaboration with key community actors: citizens, businesses, public administration, and knowledge centers, to generate synergies that favor economic and social development, promote social inclusion, and foster sustainability.

Characteristics of innovation

Personalization of the service, Adolescence and youth, Innovative organization, Link with the community, New model of intervention, Woman

Localization

Catalonia

Partners / Funders

Secretariat of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation (Red.es), Kit Digital, Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (Government of Spain), and Next Generation Funds (European Union)

Genesis

The V-TOOLS project began in 2017, with the aim of transforming digital education and social innovation. The pandemic temporarily interrupted the entity’s activity, but in 2023 it reinvented itself with a fresher approach adapted to new realities.

Level of implementation

In 2024, V-TOOLS was selected as a candidate initiative for the Meta_Talks Awards, the first awards recognizing the best Spanish-speaking projects developed with metaverse technologies.

More information

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ShareAmi, intergenerational language exchanges through videoconferences

Laura Hurtado on 15 May 2024

Language exchange program through videoconferences between elderly people and young individuals living outside their country

During the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many elderly people found themselves isolated, while young refugees lost the opportunity to attend language meetings and classes that would facilitate their social integration and the learning of the host country’s language.

To address these two issues, the organization Oldyssey launched the ShareAmi project, a program that allows intergenerational language exchanges through videoconferences. On one hand, it helps young refugees better integrate into the new territory, and on the other, it combats the feeling of unwanted loneliness experienced by many elderly people. Additionally, the use of this tool also allows elderly people to improve their relationship with technology and, at the same time, reinforce their sense of usefulness in society.

ShareAmi operates through a volunteer system, in which volunteers contact both parties interested in the exchange and act as intermediaries. The meetings last for three months and are held weekly. To ensure follow-up, the mediator receives monthly feedback on the sessions. Once the scheduled time has passed, participants can decide whether to continue the video calls or end the exchange.