Privacy Policy

Village – Discover Your Village

Effective Date: March 24, 2026 | Last Updated: March 31, 2026

Our commitment: Village is built on trust. We collect only the minimum data needed to connect neighbors and never sell your personal information to third parties.

1. Who We Are

Village ("we," "our," or "us") is a free, hyperlocal community sharing application that connects neighbors who have extra food, clothing, skills, and household items with those who need them. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use the Village mobile application (the "App").

2. Information We Collect

Data Type	Purpose	Linked to Identity
Approximate Location	Show nearby posts, donations, and resources	No
Display Name	Identify you in the community	Yes
Messages	Enable communication between neighbors	Yes
Posts & Donations	Display your shared items and requests	Yes
Reputation Data	Trust badges, ratings, and exchange history	Yes
Push Token	Deliver notifications about claims and messages	No

3. Information We Do Not Collect

We do not collect your real name, email address, or phone number unless you voluntarily provide them.
We do not use advertising identifiers or tracking pixels.
We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with advertisers or data brokers.
We do not use analytics SDKs that track your behavior across other apps or websites.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect solely to:

Display nearby posts, donations, and community resources based on your location.
Enable messaging between you and other community members.
Calculate and display trust badges and reputation scores.
Send push notifications about claims, messages, and badge achievements.
Moderate content and enforce community guidelines.

5. Location Data

Village requests access to your device's location to show nearby posts and resources. Location data is used in real time and is not stored on our servers in a way that creates a location history. You can revoke location access at any time through your device's Settings, though this will limit the App's ability to show nearby content.

6. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored locally on your device using encrypted storage (AsyncStorage and SecureStore). When server features are used, data is transmitted over HTTPS and stored in encrypted databases. We implement industry-standard security measures including:

TLS 1.3 encryption for all data in transit.
Encrypted storage for sensitive credentials on your device.
Server-side access controls and audit logging.

7. Data Retention

We retain your data only for as long as your account is active. Posts and donations are automatically removed after their expiration period. You can delete your account and all associated data at any time from the Profile screen in the App.

8. Third-Party Services

Village uses the following third-party services:

Service	Purpose	Data Shared
Expo Push Notifications	Deliver push notifications	Push token only
Firebase Cloud Messaging	Android push notification delivery	Push token only
Apple Push Notification service	iOS push notification delivery	Push token only

We do not integrate any advertising networks, social media trackers, or behavioral analytics platforms.

9. Children's Privacy

Village is rated 4+ and does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete it. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

10. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you.
Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Delete your account and all associated data.
Export your data in a portable format.
Withdraw consent for location access or push notifications at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the address below or use the in-app settings.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you through the App or by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

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

Village App
Email: ioanaabdic@gmail.com
Website: villageapp-feglezgp.manus.space