Your Privacy Matters: Edify Worldwide is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your data when you use our counseling platform.
1. Introduction
Edify Worldwide ("we," "our," or "us") operates a faith-based counseling platform that connects members with certified counselors. This Privacy Policy describes how we handle your personal information when you use our mobile application and services.
By using Edify Worldwide, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies, please do not use our services.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information
We collect the following types of personal information:
Account Information: Full name, email address, and password (encrypted)
Profile Information: Profile photo, church affiliation (optional), and anonymity preferences
Counselor Information: Professional title, biography, specializations, languages, years of experience, pricing, and gender
Identity Verification: For counselors, we may collect credentials and supporting documents during the application process
2.2 Session and Communication Data
Session Details: Scheduled appointments, session duration, session type (text/audio), and session status
Chat Messages: Text messages and voice recordings exchanged during counseling sessions
Voice Call Data: Call duration, connection quality, and call logs for audio counseling sessions
Anonymous Sessions: When you choose anonymous mode, your identity is hidden from the counselor, but session data is still recorded for quality and safety purposes
2.3 Financial Information
Payment Data: Transaction amounts, payment status, and transaction references (processed securely through Paystack)
Counselor Banking: Bank account details for counselors to receive payouts (encrypted and access-restricted)
Card Details: We do NOT store your credit/debit card information. All payment details are securely handled by our payment processor, Paystack
2.4 Usage and Device Information
Device Tokens: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) tokens for push notifications
Online Status: Presence tracking during active sessions
Notification Preferences: Your notification settings and read status
2.5 Reviews and Ratings
Feedback: Star ratings (1-5) and review text you provide for counselors
Anonymous Reviews: Option to submit reviews anonymously
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information for the following purposes:
Service Delivery: Facilitate counseling sessions, match members with counselors, and enable communication
Payment Processing: Process session payments, calculate platform fees, and manage counselor earnings
Account Management: Create and maintain your account, verify counselor credentials, and manage user roles
Notifications: Send session reminders, booking confirmations, payment receipts, and application status updates
Platform Operations: Enforce our terms of service, prevent fraud, and ensure user safety
Customer Support: Respond to your inquiries and provide technical assistance
Note: We do NOT use your data for advertising, marketing analytics, or selling to third parties. Your counseling conversations are private and confidential.
4. How We Share Your Information
4.1 With Counselors (Session Participants)
When you book a session, we share necessary information with your counselor:
Your name (or "Anonymous Member" if you choose anonymous mode)
Session details (date, time, type)
Chat messages and voice recordings during the session
4.2 Third-Party Service Providers
We use trusted third-party services to operate our platform:
Google Firebase: Authentication, database storage (Firestore), file storage, cloud functions, and push notifications
Agora: Real-time voice communication during audio counseling sessions
Paystack: Secure payment processing for session bookings
These providers have access to your information only to perform services on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for other purposes.
4.3 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency).
4.4 What We DON'T Share
We do NOT sell your personal information to third parties
We do NOT share your counseling session content for marketing purposes
We do NOT use third-party analytics or advertising networks
5. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:
Encryption: All data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted using HTTPS/TLS
Firebase Security: Data stored in Firestore and Firebase Storage is encrypted at rest
Access Controls: Role-based access controls ensure only authorized personnel can access sensitive data
Authentication: Secure email/password authentication with Firebase Auth
Payment Security: PCI-compliant payment processing through Paystack
Important: While we use industry-standard security measures, no method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.
6. Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations:
Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for a reasonable period after deletion
Session Records: Chat messages and session details are retained indefinitely for quality assurance and dispute resolution
Transaction Records: Financial records are retained for 7 years for tax and audit purposes
Call Recordings: Voice call logs are retained for 90 days
7. Your Rights and Choices
7.1 Access and Correction
You can access and update your profile information at any time through the app settings.
You can manage your notification preferences in the app settings or disable push notifications through your device settings.
7.4 Anonymous Sessions
You can choose to book sessions anonymously. Your identity will be hidden from the counselor, though session data is still recorded.
8. Children's Privacy
Edify Worldwide is not intended for users under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 18, please contact us immediately.
9. International Data Transfers
Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. By using our services, you consent to such transfers.
10. Third-Party Links
Our app may contain links to third-party websites or services (e.g., church websites). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to read their privacy policies.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by:
Posting the new Privacy Policy in the app
Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
Sending you a notification through the app or email
Your continued use of our services after changes indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Permissions We Request
Our app requests the following permissions to function properly:
Microphone: Required for voice counseling sessions
Camera: Optional, for capturing profile photos
Photo Library: Optional, for selecting profile photos from your gallery
Notifications: For session reminders and important updates
Internet: Required to connect to our servers and enable all features
You can manage these permissions through your device settings at any time.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: