Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

CYALE (Community Youth Advocacy and Leadership Empowerment) is committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your data when you use our website, programs, and services.

This policy applies to all users of our services, including program participants, volunteers, donors, and website visitors.

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect the following personal information:

• Full name and contact information (email, phone number)
• Date of birth and age
• Gender and demographic information
• Address and location information
• Educational background and current school/institution
• Emergency contact information
• Parent/guardian information for minors

Program-Related Information

For program participation, we may collect:

• Program preferences and interests
• Skills assessment and educational needs
• Attendance records and progress reports
• Feedback and evaluation data
• Volunteer hours and contributions

Technical Information

We automatically collect technical information when you visit our website:

• IP address and device information
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on our site
• Referring website information
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

• To provide and manage our programs and services
• To communicate with you about program updates and opportunities
• To process registrations and applications
• To track program participation and progress
• To improve our programs and services
• To send newsletters and organizational updates
• To process donations and financial contributions
• To comply with legal and regulatory requirements
• To ensure the safety and security of our participants

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under Ghana's Data Protection Act, we process your information based on:

• Consent: When you voluntarily provide information for program participation
• Contractual Necessity: To fulfill our obligations under program agreements
• Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Legitimate Interests: For organizational administration and improvement of services
• Vital Interests: To protect participants' health and safety

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

• With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize us to share specific information
• Service Providers: With trusted third-party service providers who assist in our operations
• Program Partners: With partner organizations for program delivery (with your consent)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government regulation
• Safety Concerns: To protect the rights, property, or safety of our participants or others
• Organizational Transfer: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal information:

• Secure servers and encryption for data transmission
• Access controls and authentication systems
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Staff training on data protection practices
• Physical security for paper records
• Data backup and recovery systems

While we take reasonable precautions to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy:

• Program participant data: Retained for 5 years after program completion
• Volunteer records: Retained for 7 years after last volunteer activity
• Donor information: Retained for 7 years for tax and reporting purposes
• Website analytics: Retained for 2 years
• Financial records: Retained for 7 years as required by law

After the retention period, data is securely destroyed or anonymized.

8. Your Rights

Under Ghana's Data Protection Act, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal information
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service
• Objection: Object to processing of your information
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

9. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Analyze website traffic and usage patterns
• Improve website functionality and user experience
• Provide personalized content and recommendations

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are directed toward youth and young adults. For participants under 18 years of age:

• We require parental/guardian consent for data collection
• Parents/guardians can access, review, and delete their child's information
• We limit data collection to what is necessary for program participation
• We implement additional safeguards for minor's data protection

12. International Data Transfers

Your personal information is stored and processed primarily in Ghana. If we transfer data outside Ghana, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

13. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on our website and will be effective immediately upon posting.

We will notify you of significant changes via email or other communication methods.

14. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or need to exercise your data protection rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer: