Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Loakit ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting your personal information and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform, in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) of South Africa.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information that you provide directly to us, including:

• Account Information: Name, email address, school or organisation name, and role (learner, educator, sponsor, or parent)
• Learning Data: Progress, quiz results, badges earned, and learning preferences
• Support Records: Verification data for sponsor-learner relationships and support delivery confirmations
• Communication Data: Messages and correspondence with our team
• Technical Data: Device information, IP address, and usage analytics (collected with consent)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

• To provide and personalise your learning experience
• To track and report learning progress to authorised parties (schools, parents, sponsors)
• To verify support delivery and maintain accountability between sponsors and beneficiaries
• To improve our platform and develop new features
• To communicate with you about your account and our services
• To comply with legal obligations

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under POPIA, we process your personal information based on one or more of the following lawful grounds: your consent, performance of a contract with you, compliance with legal obligations, protection of your legitimate interests, or the pursuit of our legitimate interests (provided these do not override your rights).

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your personal information with:

• Schools and Educators: Learning progress and performance data for enrolled learners
• Sponsors: Aggregated or anonymised impact data; individual learner data only with explicit consent
• Parents/Guardians: Progress data for their children
• Service Providers: Third-party vendors who assist us in operating our platform (under strict confidentiality agreements)
• Legal Authorities: When required by law or to protect our rights

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. This includes encryption, access controls, and regular security assessments. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Learning records may be retained for educational verification purposes as required by applicable regulations.

8. Your Rights Under POPIA

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Right to Object: Object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing
• Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a structured, commonly used format
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent at any time (this does not affect the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal)

9. Children's Privacy

Our platform is designed to serve learners of all ages, including children. For learners under the age of 18, we obtain consent from a parent, guardian, or school authority before collecting personal information. We take special care to protect children's data and limit collection to what is necessary for educational purposes.

10. Cookies and Tracking

We use essential cookies to ensure our platform functions correctly. Analytics cookies are only used with your consent to help us understand how the platform is used and to improve our services. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your rights, or have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us:

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe your personal information has been processed in violation of POPIA.