Privacy notice

Who we are

HerVillagers (hervillagers.com) is the data controller for information you share with us. Contact us any time at hello@hervillagers.com.

What we collect

• Account: email address, private Kenyan mobile number for SMS verification, and sign-in details. Phone verification is a security check, not an M-Pesa payment.
• Profile: first name, city, neighbourhood, interests, what you're looking for and an optional photo.
• Children: only age ranges (for example "1–3 years"). We never ask for children's names, birthdays or photos.
• Activity: posts, replies, listings, RSVPs, circle and village memberships, saved items and private messages.
• Safety: reports you make, blocks, moderation decisions, phone verification status and private member vouches used to determine trust privileges.
• Consent records: what you agreed to and when.
• Advertisers: business contact details and payment confirmation messages.

We never collect or show your exact address or live location — neighbourhood only.

Why we use it, and our lawful basis

• Running the service (your profile, matching, circles, messages) — performance of our agreement with you.
• Keeping members safe (moderation, fraud and scam prevention, reports) — our legitimate interest and legal obligations.
• Children's age ranges and optional details — your consent, which you can withdraw at any time.
• Marketing emails — only with your opt-in consent.
• Account emails (verification, password reset, advert status) — performance of our agreement.

Who we share it with

• Other members see only what your privacy settings allow. Everything starts private.
• Service providers who host our database and deliver emails or SMS verification codes, under contracts that protect your data. Your mobile number is not shared with other members or advertisers.
• Advertisers never receive personal data. They see only anonymous totals (views, shares, clicks, saves). Paid status never affects recommendations or matching.
• Authorities only where the law requires it, or to protect a child from harm.

We never sell your data.

How long we keep it

• Your account data: while your account is active.
• When you delete your account: a 14-day grace period, then permanent deletion of your profile, posts, replies, listings and messages.
• Reports and moderation records: up to 12 months, to keep the community safe.
• Advertiser payment records: as long as Kenyan tax law requires.

Your rights

You have the right to be informed, to access, correct or delete your data, to object to or restrict processing, to data portability, and to withdraw consent.

• Download my data: Me → Privacy → Download my data (JSON file).
• Correct or hide details: Me → Privacy settings.
• Delete my account: Me → Delete my account.
• Anything else: email hello@hervillagers.com. We reply within 7 days.

If you're unhappy with how we handle your data, you can complain to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (odpc.go.ke).

Cookies and storage

We use only essential browser storage to keep you signed in and remember your choices. We count advert views anonymously. We do not use third-party tracking or advertising cookies.