Harassment is a deeply pervasive issue that leaves victims feeling helpless, unheard, and afraid to seek support. Many people hesitate to speak up due to fear, stigma, or not knowing where to turn for help. In a world where survivors often feel isolated, SafePearl provides a private, anonymous, and judgment-free space where they can share their experiences, receive empathetic AI-generated guidance, and find real-world support, all while ensuring complete privacy.

• 🕵️ Anonymous Experience Sharing: Users can either type or record their experience without fear of judgment. The recording option is included because many victims find it easier to speak rather than type when recalling traumatic events.
• 🤖 AI-Powered Support: OpenAI provides empathetic, structured, and actionable guidance in four key areas: acknowledgment, encouragement, coping strategies, and next steps. Unlike generic AI tools, SafePearl is specifically tuned to help victims understand what happened to them, assure them they are not to blame, and encourage them to speak up rather than remain silent.
• 📍 Real-Time Resource Finder: SafePearl detects the user's location (with permission) and displays nearby harassment support centers using Google Maps API, ensuring users can take real-world action beyond digital advice.
• 🗺️ Interactive Map: Users can view support organizations pinned on a map for easy access, eliminating the hassle of searching for help themselves.
• 🔒 Privacy-First Approach: No data is stored, ensuring a completely safe and secure experience for users who may fear retaliation or exposure.

🔹 Frontend (React.js + API Integrations)

Our React.js frontend ensures a smooth and interactive user experience, enabling seamless conversations and real-time support.

Key Features:

• React.js for a modern, responsive UI.
• React Hooks to manage chatbot state and session data.
• Google Maps API to display nearby harassment support centers on an interactive map.
• Voice Input to improve accessibility.
• Progressive Web App (PWA) Support for mobile accessibility.

🔹 Backend (Flask + OpenAI + Google APIs)

The backend powers PearlSafe's AI capabilities, chat memory, and safety information retrieval.

Tech Stack:

• Flask as the lightweight and efficient backend.
• Google Gemini API & OpenAI API for AI-powered conversational responses.
• Cloudflare KV (or Firebase/Redis) for ephemeral chat session storage.
• Google Maps Places API for real-time location-based safety recommendations.
• Flask-CORS to allow secure cross-origin API calls.

Key Backend Functionalities:

✅ Session Management: Generates a unique session ID per user. Stores temporary conversation context for better chat continuity.

✅ AI-Powered Responses: Calls Google Gemini API for structured, compassionate responses tailored to sensitive topics. Handles rejection filtering (ensuring AI does not generate unsafe content).

✅ Real-Time Safety Features: Integrates Google Maps API to fetch verified safety centers near a user’s location. Supports location-based alerts for high-risk areas (future feature).

✅ Security & Privacy: Allows session expiration & auto-delete for privacy. Plans to implement encryption for sensitive conversations. 🔗 Backend Repository: GitHub - SafePearls-backend

Building a platform for such a sensitive and urgent issue came with challenges:

• Fine-Tuning AI for Empathy: Ensuring OpenAI responses were structured, trauma-informed, and genuinely helpful rather than generic or clinical.
• Google Maps API Limitations: Filtering relevant support organizations dynamically based on location was complex.
• Client-Side Performance Issues: Handling map rendering and API calls while maintaining a smooth user experience.
• Time Constraints: Creating a meaningful, fully functional prototype in just 24 hours required intense focus, teamwork, and quick decision-making.

• ✅ Built an end-to-end working prototype in just 24 hours!
• ✅ Successfully integrated OpenAI to generate empathetic, structured responses.
• ✅ Implemented real-time location tracking to provide actionable, localized support.
• ✅ Designed a privacy-focused platform that ensures complete anonymity for users.
• ✅ Collaborated effectively as a team, overcoming challenges and delivering a meaningful solution.

• ⚖️ The importance of AI ethics in handling sensitive topics. We learned how to refine AI-generated responses to ensure they were helpful, not harmful to survivors.
• 📍 How to optimize Google Maps API for real-world use cases. We tackled filtering issues and refined how location-based resources were displayed.
• 🔄 Balancing technical complexity with user experience. A project like this demands both functionality and accessibility to truly help those in need.
• 🤝 The power of working as a team under pressure. Building something impactful in 24 hours required clear communication, quick problem-solving, and adaptability.

• Multilingual Support: Expanding the platform to help survivors worldwide.
• Enhanced Location Filtering: Improving the accuracy and credibility of support center recommendations.
• AI Chat-Based Support: Implementing real-time chatbot assistance for users seeking immediate guidance.
• Partnerships with NGOs and Crisis Centers: Collaborating with organizations to provide verified, trusted resources.

• Node.js (>=16.0.0)
• npm or yarn
• Google Maps API Key
• OpenAI API Key
• Google Generative AI API Key

git clone https://github.com/your-repo/safepearl.git
cd safepearl

npm install  # or yarn install

Create a .env file in the root directory and add the following keys:

REACT_APP_OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key
REACT_APP_GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY=your_google_maps_api_key
REACT_APP_GOOGLE_GENERATIVE_AI_API_KEY=your_generative_ai_key

npm start  # or yarn start

Access the app at http://localhost:3000.

The design prioritizes simplicity, clarity, and safety to ensure that survivors feel comfortable using the platform.

• Dark Mode: To create a calm and comfortable user experience.
• Minimalistic UI: To avoid overwhelming users with unnecessary elements.
• Large, Easy-to-Read Fonts: For accessibility and ease of use.

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

For support or feedback, reach out via:
🐙 GitHub Issues: SafePearl Repo

Harassment is real. The impact is deep. But no one has to go through it alone.
💗 SafePearl is here to listen, support, and guide. 💗