Security & Privacy

Thank you for your interest in our work, our website and the privacy and security policies and terms guiding the use of this website.
This privacy and security statement explains how personal, payment or other information communicated by you on or through the website is collected, protected and managed by Helping Hands. Respecting and protecting your privacy is of utmost importance to us.
We encourage you to read through the complete privacy and security statement including the section on terms of use, which describes limitations placed on your use of information, images and technology provided on or through the website. These are issues of legal concern to us. YOUR USE OF THIS WEBSITE CONSTITUTES YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
Throughout this statement on our policies and terms, you will see the terms “Helping Hands”, “we”, “our” and “us” – these terms refer here to Helping Hands, and the operator of this website. Helping Hands is a private, non-profit, charitable, non-political and non-confessional organisation, which works for the cause of orphaned and destitute children. The terms “you”, “your” and “yours” in this statement refer to visitors and users of our website.

OUR WEBSITE
1. What is the purpose of this website?
We maintain this website to provide you with information about Helping Hands, and to offer you the opportunity to help children and youngsters in need. The website includes features, which make it possible to share something you have seen or read with a friend or acquaintance. You can also make a donation to Helping Hands on both a regular and/or on a more spontaneous basis.
YOUR PRIVACY
2. Where and why does Helping Hands collect information on or through the website?
We do not ask you for any personal information if you are just visiting our website. However, for you to take advantage of some of our services, we may ask for some personal information. Additionally, in order to help us continually to learn and improve our content and services, data is collected in an anonymous and aggregated manner, for example the number of visitors to certain pages or the use of such features as e-cards and tell-a-friend.
Some personal data such as name, address and preferences are collected when you donate on our website and when you sign up for a sponsorship. The data you provide enables us to give you information in a personalised manner. Newsletter sign-ups are completely voluntary. Completing the optional fields is your choice.
Data such as credit card numbers or other billing information are collected in order to process a donation.
3. Does Helping Hands use cookie information?
A “cookie” is a small piece of data that is sent to your browser from our web server and stored on your computer’s hard drive. Helping Hands uses cookie information in order to provide better and more personalized content and services to the visitors of this website. For example, we may use the information for tracking which areas of our website you have visited, and how frequently. We may match information obtained from cookies with other data you provided in order to develop statistics.
Please check your computer or software manual for specifics on how cookies work on your computer. It is possible to block cookies from being loaded onto your computer. Please note, however, that blocking cookies can affect the performance of websites.
The only personal information a cookie can contain is information you supply. A cookie cannot read data off your hard drive. Our advertisers may also assign their own cookies to your browser (if you click on their ads) and is a process that is out of our control.
4. Does Helping Hands share information collected on the website with 3rd parties?
Personal data collected is not distributed, shared, rented or sold to companies or organisations that are not a part of the Helping Hands’s organisational structure. In the event that administrative services such as credit card processing are required from third parties, such services are acquired under the understanding that all personal information is treated confidentially and only for the purpose of Helping Hands.
If compelled by law or some other regulatory authority, Helping Hands may share personal information. This is also valid if we have good reason to believe that there has been an inappropriate interference with or use of our website. In such cases we maintain the right to disclose personal information as we deem appropriate, or as asked for by a legal or regulatory authority.
Aggregated, statistical and other non-personal information such as the number of visitors to our website and their use of certain features or services may be shared with third parties working with us, for example for the promotion of our website.
5. Does Helping Hands use addresses collected on the website for sending additional information through e-mails, traditional mail or by other means?
Helping Hands sends you additional information by e-mail or snail mail only when you have expressed an interest in this. On our website you can subscribe and unsubscribe to our electronic newsletter at any time, and it is also possible to request one of our sponsorships. These sponsorships are serviced by traditional snail mail.
You are free at any time to unsubscribe from our newsletter by clicking on a link named unsubscribe, that is embedded in each electronic newsletter sent by Helping Hands. In this regard, you may also contact us by completing the contact form on our website or by writing to the e-mail address given at the bottom of this statement.
6. How can I opt-out of mailing lists for the newsletter, cancel my sponsorship etc.?
You are free at any time to unsubscribe from our newsletter, to deregister and to cancel a sponsorship. Please contact us by completing the contact form on our website or writing to the e-mail address given at the bottom of this statement.