We are pleased to welcome you on our website. The protection of your privacy and the protection of your personal data when using our website is important to us. Usthi does not trade addresses, or lease, sell or exchange personal data and complies with applicable data protection regulations, in particular the federal law on data protection. Usthi acts in accordance with
ZEWO standards.

Responsible Authority
Usthi Foundation, Spitzenwiesstrasse 75, 8645 Jona, Switzerland

Copyright / rights of use
© Usthi Foundation: The copyrights for content as well as author’s rights and utilisation rights for photos and videos are held by the Usthi Foundation, unless otherwise stated. If you wish to use texts, photos or videos from our website, please send an email request to hello@usthi.ch. Thank you.

Web editor: Usthi Team Switzerland
Photo and video editing: Usthi Team Switzerland
Photographs: Axxaris AG, Kurt Bürki, Usthi Team Switzerland, Usthi Partners in India and Nepal
English translation: Usthi Team Switzerland, Silvia Day-Tognola, Elizabeth Thompson, Timothy Dean
Web design: indyaner media gmbh

General observation
By using this website, you consent to the collection, processing and use of data as described below.

This Data Protection Policy explains the type, scope and purpose of processing of personal data as part of our on-line presence, including the associated websites, functions and content, as well as external on-line presences, such as our social media profiles. Regarding terminology used, such as “personal data” or “processing”, we refer to the definitions in Art. 4 of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (hereinafter: “GDPR”). This Data Protection Policy only applies to this website. It does not apply to other websites to which we re-direct via a hyperlink.

We process personal data in accordance with Swiss data protection law. In addition, we process – to the extent and insofar as the EU GDPR is applicable – personal data in accordance with the following legal bases in connection with Art. 6 Para. 1, GDPR.

Types of personal data processed

• Stock data (e.g. names, addresses)
• Contact details (e.g. e-mail, telephone numbers)
• Usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times)
• Meta- / communication data (e.g. device information, IP address, referrer URL)

Processing of personal data
Personal data will only be processed if confirmation has been given by the user and is submitted for processing by him/her, e.g. on the forms completed for donations or requesting the newsletter.

Purpose of processing

• Provision of the on-line offer, its contents and functions.
• Provision of customer care and fulfilment of legal obligations.
• Answering contact enquiries and communicating with users.
• Marketing, promotion and analysis.
• Technical and organisational security measures.

Use of cookies
When you register on our website, only absolutely necessary cookies are used. You can deactivate these through your browser settings, but you will then no longer be able to use our website. Other cookies, however, which collect data via tracking and evaluation tools, enable us to carry out a variety of analyses. These cookies help us to improve our website and make it more user-friendly. If third parties process information via cookies, they gather the information directly via your browser.

Tracking and analysis tools
We use Google Analytics , a web analysis service provided by Google LLC, on the basis of legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimisation and economical/efficient operation of our on-line offer within the meaning of Art. 6 Paragraph 1, subsection f, GDPR).  Google makes use of cookies. The information generated by the cookie about the utilisation by the user of the on-line offer is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

Google is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thereby undertakes to comply with European data protection law. Google will use this information on our behalf to evaluate the use of our website, to compile reports on activity within this on-line offer and to supply us with other services related to the utilisation of the website and the internet.

We only use Google Analytics with activated IP anonymisation. This means that the user IP address is shortened by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states to the Agreement. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and truncated there.

Data collection from forms
We process stock data (e.g. names and addresses as well as contact details of users) and contractual data (e.g. names of contact persons, payment information) for the purpose of fulfilling our contractual obligations in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 subsection b, GDPR. The entries marked as required in on-line forms are essential for the conclusion of the contract. As soon as we no longer require personal data for the above-mentioned purposes, they will be erased or anonymised as far as possible.
If the data cannot be deleted due to statutory record-keeping requirements, for example commercial or tax retention requirements, we limit the processing of the data.

Registration and contact options
If you subscribe to our newsletter or send us general enquiries, you decide to provide us with personal data via the online forms, for these specific purposes.  We need your email address to confirm on-line payments or to answer your enquiries. If you subscribe to our newsletter, you will receive the latest information on Usthi, about four times a year. We use the double opt-in process for sending newsletters.  We only use your telephone number to process your enquiries.

An option to contact us via e-mail is available on our website. If you contact us by e-mail, data collection is limited to the address of the e-mail account used by you to contact us as well as the personal data you volunteered when contacting us. The purpose of this data processing is to be able to answer your enquiry appropriately. Section 2 Art. 4, GDPR is the legal basis for this operation. The duration of the storage of the above-mentioned data is dependent on the reason for your contacting us.

Data transfer
If we, as part of data processing, disclose or transmit the data to other persons and companies (contract processors or third parties) or otherwise grant access to the data, this is only done on the basis of a legal authorisation (e.g. if in order to fulfil a contract, the data is transmitted to third parties such as payment service providers in accordance with Art. 6 Paragraph 1 subsection b, GDPR) to which you have consented or is required by a legal obligation. When transferring data to external bodies in third countries, we ensure that these bodies treat your personal data with care and meet the requirements of Swiss law.

Social media
On the basis of our legitimate interests within the meaning of Art. 6 Paragraph 1 subsection f, GDPR, we maintain an on-line presence within social networks and platforms in order to communicate with active customers, interested parties and users and to inform them about our services. When accessing such networks and platforms, the terms and conditions and data processing guidelines of their respective operators are applicable. Videos in our media library are embedded via YouTube. By viewing them, you agree to the terms of use of YouTube LLC.  If you navigate via our website to social media channels such as LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram, these companies’ data protection guidelines are applicable.

Changes to this Data Protection Policy
We reserve the right to update this policy according to new requirements at any time.

Data subject rights
In accordance with data protection legislation, you have the right, at any time, to obtain information about your personal data and whether it is being processed. You can also request that the data relating to you be rectified or erased.

In case of discrepancies between the German (original) and English (translation) versions of this document, the German version shall prevail.