Author Estela Moreno will present the story “Pepuka and the Monster That Stole Her Smile” at Carmen Jalón Municipal Library, with two free family sessions
TORREVIEJA, 20 May 2026 — Torrevieja City Council’s Equality Department has launched the “PEPUKA” campaign, an initiative aimed at helping prevent gender violence through education in values from early childhood.
The campaign, organised by the Equality Department led by councillor Inmaculada Montesinos, is especially focused on families and promotes respect, equality and the early identification of harmful behaviour.
At the heart of the initiative is the children’s story “Pepuka and the Monster That Stole Her Smile”, written by Estela Moreno, a pedagogue and specialist in gender violence prevention. The book has become a recognised educational resource in Spain and abroad for raising awareness among young children.
Moreno has received more than a dozen awards from different institutions and organisations for her work, helping establish the Pepuka project as a high-impact teaching tool.
The story of Pepuka, which has also been adapted into a plasticine short film, delivers a message of resilience, recovery and empowerment. Its accessible style allows families and educators to address a complex issue in a sensitive and age-appropriate way.
The campaign will arrive in Torrevieja on Monday, 1 June, when Moreno will take part in a special event at the Carmen Jalón Municipal Library, located at Calle Chapaprieta, 39.
Two free storytelling sessions for families will be held during the afternoon:
- 5:00pm to 6:00pm
- 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Through the initiative, the Equality Department aims to reinforce the importance of educating children from the earliest stages in respect, equality and the rejection of harmful conduct.
The council says the campaign also seeks to involve both families and children in a shared educational process, helping build a more equal society from childhood.
