Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

• Account information, name, email address, password (stored as a salted hash, never in plain text), role, and optional profile details (bio, avatar, phone, country, language preference).
• Content you provide, partner listings, job/scholarship posts, messages, files you upload, and support/contact submissions.
• Usage and device data, IP address, browser/device type, pages visited, and timestamps, collected automatically for security and analytics purposes.
• Cookies and similar technologies, see our Cookie Policy for details.

2. How We Use Information

We use the information above to:

• Create and secure your account, including email verification and login.
• Operate core features: partner directories, job/scholarship applications, messaging, notifications, and search.
• Send account-related emails (verification codes, password resets, notifications you've opted into).
• Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents.
• Improve the platform through aggregate, non-identifying usage analysis.
• Display advertising through third-party ad networks (see Section 4) to support the platform's operating costs.

3. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We share data only with: (a) other users, to the extent your profile/content is public or you choose to message them; (b) service providers who help us operate the platform (hosting, email delivery); (c) advertising partners, limited to what's described in Section 4; and (d) authorities where required by law.

4. Advertising and Third-Party Services

We may use third-party advertising services, including Google AdSense, to display ads and help fund the platform. Google and its partners may use cookies (including the DoubleClick cookie) to serve ads based on your visits to this site and other sites on the internet. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings, or generally at aboutads.info.

5. Data Retention

We retain account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we remove or anonymize personal data within a reasonable period, except where retention is required for legal, security, or fraud-prevention purposes.

6. Your Rights

You can access and update most of your information directly from your account settings. You may also request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal data by contacting us (Section 9). We will respond within a reasonable timeframe.

7. Children's Privacy

VPD is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will remove it.

8. Data Security

We use industry-standard measures, password hashing, rate limiting, encrypted connections (HTTPS), and access controls, to protect your data. No system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Contact Us

Questions about this Privacy Policy? Reach us via our Contact page.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version here with a revised "Last updated" date.