Privacy Policy for Resilient Voices

Resilient Voices (“we”, “us”, or “our”) is an educational project dedicated to empowering young Palestinians through digital storytelling. We provide a platform at resilientvoices.site (the “Website”) where students can share written stories, audio podcasts, and video content highlighting Palestinian heritage, culture, resilience, determination, and experiences of adversity.

We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of all visitors, users, and especially the young participants who contribute content. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, with whom we share it (if at all), and your rights regarding your data.

1. Information We Collect

We collect limited personal information only as necessary for the project’s educational and non-profit purposes.

• From student contributors: When submitting stories, we may collect name (or pseudonym), age range, email address (for communication/confirmation), organization affiliation, and the user-generated content itself (written text, audio files, video files, photos, or other media). This may include sensitive personal details related to heritage, culture, family, or experiences of adversity.
• From general visitors: IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and time/date of access (via standard web server logs and analytics tools).
• Cookies and similar technologies: We use essential cookies for site functionality. Optional analytics cookies (e.g., Google Analytics) may collect anonymized data about site usage. No advertising cookies are used.

We do not knowingly collect more data than necessary and aim to allow pseudonymous or anonymized submissions where possible.

2. How We Collect Information

Information is collected when you:

• Submit a story, podcast, or video via forms or upload features.
• Contact us (e.g., via email or contact form).
• Browse the Website (automatic technical data).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information solely for the project’s mission:

• To publish, display, and archive student stories and media on the Website for educational and cultural preservation purposes.
• To communicate with contributors (e.g., confirm submissions, provide feedback, or request revisions).
• To improve the Website and project (e.g., anonymized analytics).
• To comply with legal obligations or protect the safety of participants.

We do not use your data for marketing, advertising, or commercial purposes.

4. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

We do not sell personal information. We share data only in very limited cases:

• With trusted service providers (e.g., hosting, cloud storage, or email services) who help operate the Website and are bound by strict confidentiality.
• If required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, safety, or security of the project, participants, or the public (e.g., in cases of threats related to sensitive content).
• Anonymized or aggregated cultural/heritage stories may be shared with educational partners or for non-profit research (with contributor consent where possible).

Student content is published publicly on the Website to amplify voices, but we accept anonymization/pseudonyms and review submissions carefully for safety.

5. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your information, including encryption for transmissions, access controls, and secure hosting. However, no system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, especially for sensitive topics.

6. Special Note on Children’s Privacy

This project involves no minors (students under 18). Nevertheless:

• Contributors can contact us at any time to review, edit, or request deletion of their content or data.
• We encourage contributors to revise their submissions in advance and to engage in discussions with the team and their peers about the ethical, personal, and cultural implications of sharing stories online.

7. International Data Transfers

The Website may be hosted or processed in countries outside your location (e.g., servers in the U.S. or EU). We use providers with appropriate safeguards for international transfers.

8. Data Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the project’s purposes (e.g., archiving stories for cultural preservation). Contributors can request removal of their content/data at any time.

9. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights to:

• Access, correct, or delete your personal data/content.
• Withdraw consent (where consent is the basis).
• Object to processing (especially for sensitive cultural/personal stories).

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted here with a new effective date. We encourage you to review it periodically.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our practices, please contact:

Resilient Voices Email: [email protected]

By using the Website or submitting content, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

Thank you for trusting us with these important voices.