Privacy Policy

In short: messages sent through our website contact form are processed by Netlify; volunteer and mentor applications are collected through Google Forms; and donations are made on our Flutterwave giving page and processed by Flutterwave. We never see or store your card details.

1. Introduction

The Araba Women Empowerment Foundation ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using our website, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide to Us

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

Contact Form (on this website, processed by Netlify):

Full name
Email address
Phone number
Message content
Topic of your message (for example programs, volunteering, giving, mentoring or a general inquiry)

Donation Information (collected and processed by Flutterwave):

Donations are made on our secure Flutterwave giving page, which opens outside this website. Flutterwave collects your payment details and shares with us the information we need to record and acknowledge your gift:

Email address
Donation amount and currency
Payment information (processed securely and directly by Flutterwave — we never see or store your card details)
Transaction reference number
Date of donation

Volunteer and Mentor Applications (collected through Google Forms):

Volunteer and mentor applications are collected through Google Forms, a service provided by Google. When you complete one of our forms, the information you submit is stored in our Google account and is also subject to Google's Privacy Policy. We may collect:

Name and contact information
Skills and experience
Availability
For mentors: profession, field of work and areas you can mentor in
Any other information you choose to provide

2.2 Information Automatically Collected

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about your device, including:

Device Information:

Browser type and version
Operating system
IP address
Device type (mobile, tablet, desktop)

Usage Information:

Pages visited
Time spent on pages
Referring website
Date and time of visit
Click-through data

Cookies and Tracking Technologies:

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our website and store certain information. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent.

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 To Provide and Maintain Our Services

Process donations and volunteer applications
Respond to your inquiries and requests
Send confirmation emails
Provide information about our programs

3.2 To Communicate With You

Notify you about changes to our services
Provide information about events and opportunities
Send fundraising appeals and impact reports

3.3 To Improve Our Website and Services

Analyze website usage and trends
Understand user preferences
Improve website functionality
Develop new programs and services

3.4 To Comply With Legal Obligations

Maintain records as required by Nigerian law
Respond to legal requests and prevent fraud
Protect the rights and safety of our organization and others

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

4.1 Service Providers

We may share your information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as:

Flutterwave (payment processing): donations are made on our Flutterwave giving page and processed directly through Flutterwave's secure platform. Flutterwave's privacy policy applies to all payment data: flutterwave.com/privacy-policy
Google (Google Forms): stores volunteer and mentor applications
Website hosting and maintenance providers
Netlify (website hosting and contact form processing)
Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity (website analytics)

These service providers are contractually obligated to use your information only for the purposes we specify and to protect your information.

4.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., court orders, government agencies).

4.3 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4.4 With Your Consent

We may share your information for any other purpose with your explicit consent.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

Retention Periods:

Contact form submissions: 2 years
Donation records: 7 years (for tax and legal compliance)
Volunteer and mentor applications submitted through Google Forms: duration of the volunteer or mentoring relationship plus 2 years

6. Your Data Protection Rights

Under Nigerian Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and applicable laws, you have the following rights:

6.1 Right to Access

You have the right to request copies of your personal information.

6.2 Right to Rectification

You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.

6.3 Right to Erasure

You have the right to request that we delete your personal information, under certain conditions.

6.4 Right to Restrict Processing

You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information, under certain conditions.

6.5 Right to Object

You have the right to object to our processing of your personal information, under certain conditions.

6.6 Right to Data Portability

You have the right to request that we transfer the data we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.

6.7 Right to Withdraw Consent

Where we rely on your consent to process your personal information, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.

To Exercise Your Rights:
Contact us at info@arabawef.org or +234 808 410 8037

We will respond to your request within 30 days.

7. Security of Your Information

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

Encryption of sensitive data (SSL/TLS)
Secure servers and databases
Regular security assessments
Limited access to personal information
Employee training on data protection

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

8. Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will delete such information.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and maintained on servers located outside of Nigeria. By using our website, you consent to the transfer of information to countries outside your country of residence, which may have different data protection rules.

We will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

9a. Payment Processing and International Transfers

When you make a donation, your payment is processed by Flutterwave. Your payment is processed in the currency you choose on our Flutterwave giving page. Flutterwave may transfer payment data internationally as part of processing your transaction. By donating, you consent to your payment data being processed by Flutterwave in accordance with their privacy policy at flutterwave.com/privacy-policy.

10. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

11. Cookies Policy

11.1 What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files placed on your device to collect standard Internet log information and visitor behavior information.

11.2 Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies:
Required for the website to function properly (e.g., session cookies)

Analytics Cookies:
Help us understand how visitors interact with our website. We use Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity for this purpose.

Advertising:
We do not display third-party advertising on this website and do not use advertising cookies.

11.3 Managing Cookies

You can set your browser to refuse all or some cookies, or to alert you when websites set or access cookies. If you disable or refuse cookies, some parts of this website may become inaccessible or not function properly.

12. Email Communications

We only email you in reply to a message you send us, about a volunteer or mentor application you make, or about a donation you give. We do not send newsletters or marketing emails.

You can ask us to stop emailing you at any time by:

Contacting us at info@arabawef.org
Calling us at +234 808 410 8037

We maintain a presence on social media platforms, including Instagram (@arabawef). When you interact with us on social media, the platform's privacy policy applies to that interaction. Please review the privacy policies of any social media platforms you use.

14. Data Protection Officer

For questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, you may contact our Data Protection Officer:

Email: info@arabawef.org
Phone: +234 808 410 8037

15. Compliance with NDPR

We are committed to compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 and all applicable data protection laws. We:

Process personal data lawfully, fairly, and transparently
Collect data only for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes
Ensure data is adequate, relevant, and limited to what is necessary
Keep data accurate and up to date
Retain data only as long as necessary
Process data securely

By using our website, you consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.

17. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by:

Posting the new Privacy Policy on this page
Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top
Sending an email notification to registered users (for significant changes)

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when posted on this page.

18. Questions and Complaints

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to make a complaint about how we handle your personal information, please contact us:

Araba Women Empowerment Foundation
Email: info@arabawef.org
Phone: +234 808 410 8037
Instagram: @arabawef

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) or other relevant regulatory authority in Nigeria.

19. Acknowledgment

By using this website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described herein.

This Privacy Policy is effective as of the date of last update and applies to all visitors, users, and others who access or use the website.