Privacy Policy
Effective and last updated: 19 October 2026
Respect for people includes care for their information, stories, and choices.
On this page
1. Who we are and what this policy covers2. Information you enter on this website3. Information received when you contact us4. Technical information and hosting5. How information is used and the basis for doing so6. Sharing information7. Oral histories, photographs, and heritage contributions8. Retention and international processing9. Security10. Your choices and privacy rights11. Children and young participants12. External links, updates, and contact1. Who we are and what this policy covers
The Institute for African History and Heritage (“IAHH,” “the Institute,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) provides this notice to explain how information is handled through the Institute’s website and related enquiries.
This policy covers the IAHH website and communications relating to the Institute. The current website introduces developing educational programs, resources, and cultural documentation initiatives. When you use another service, including The Real Return’s travel website, an Academy platform, or a third-party website, review the privacy notice presented there. A booking, application, payment, or research project may require additional notices before information is collected.
2. Information you enter on this website
The “Prepare your enquiry” tool asks for a name, an interest category, and a message. It prepares text within your browser. It does not submit that text to IAHH, email it, or save it to an IAHH database. If you choose “Copy enquiry,” the text is written to your device’s clipboard. You decide whether and where to share it. Your browser or device may separately offer autofill, clipboard history, or session restoration.
The website’s search, format filters, and pathway selector also work locally. They do not send search terms or selected interests to an Institute search or analytics service. Do not put passport details, payment credentials, health information, restricted community knowledge, or other sensitive information into this general enquiry tool.
3. Information received when you contact us
If you choose to email us or send your enquiry through The Real Return, we receive the information you send. This may include your name, email address, organization, role, contact details, interests, and message, together with follow-up correspondence. Please provide only information relevant to your request. If you supply another person’s information, ensure you have an appropriate basis to share it.
4. Technical information and hosting
The website’s hosting, delivery, and access providers may process technical information such as IP address, browser and device information, request time, requested page, and security or error information to deliver and protect the website. Access to a private review version may require authentication through the hosting platform, whose own privacy information also applies.
The current Institute website code does not include advertising pixels, third-party behavioral analytics, or marketing trackers. It does not create an Institute learning account or collect payments. For details about cookies and browser controls, see Cookies & Privacy Choices.
5. How information is used and the basis for doing so
We use information we receive to respond to enquiries, discuss educational programs or contributions, manage requested relationships, maintain necessary business records, and protect the website and communications.
Where a lawful basis is required, it depends on the activity: responding to a request and arranging requested services; legitimate interests in communication, administration, and security where those interests are not overridden by applicable rights; compliance with legal duties; or consent when required, including for particular recording, publication, or marketing activities. We do not treat browsing this website as consent to marketing or publication of your story.
6. Sharing information
Relevant information may be handled by authorized Institute and The Real Return personnel and service providers supporting hosting, communications, security, and administration. Access should be limited to what is needed for the particular purpose.
We do not sell enquiry information or use this website for targeted advertising. We do not provide enquiries to academics, universities, community hosts, or prospective partners merely because they are mentioned on the website. Any necessary sharing to arrange a requested service will depend on that service and the information provided to you.
Information may also be disclosed where required by law, to address fraud or security incidents, protect rights or safety, or in a lawful business reorganization, subject to applicable protections.
7. Oral histories, photographs, and heritage contributions
Public collections and archival uploads are in development; this website currently provides no upload facility. An initial conversation does not give IAHH permission to record, publish, exhibit, market, or grant public access to a person’s story, image, voice, or records.
Before a documentation project begins, the applicable process should explain its purpose, the information collected, intended audiences, attribution, storage and access arrangements, and separate choices for recording and publication. Restrictions on sacred, private, or community-held knowledge must be addressed with the relevant rights holders and custodians. Any withdrawal process and practical limits, including material already lawfully published, should be explained in the project agreement. Do not send original, confidential, or restricted materials through a general enquiry.
8. Retention and international processing
Information received through correspondence is retained for as long as reasonably necessary for the enquiry, relationship, recordkeeping, legal obligations, security, or dispute resolution. The period depends on the purpose and record involved. Information no longer needed should be deleted or anonymized, subject to applicable requirements. We do not promise a fixed deletion period for every record or provider backup.
Because the Institute’s work and service providers may involve multiple countries, information may be processed outside your country, including in the United States and Ghana. Where applicable law requires safeguards for a transfer, the responsible organization must apply those safeguards. A research or archival project should explain its own storage and retention arrangements before collection.
9. Security
We seek to handle personal information with reasonable care and restrict access to appropriate personnel and service providers. No internet transmission or storage system is completely secure. Avoid sending highly sensitive information in ordinary email. The Institute does not ask you to share passwords or full payment-card details through this website.
10. Your choices and privacy rights
Depending on applicable law and your circumstances, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of personal information; object to or restrict particular processing; withdraw consent where it is the basis for processing; and opt out of marketing or other regulated uses. Rights can be subject to exceptions, verification, and legal retention requirements.
Send requests to privacy@therealreturngh.com with “IAHH privacy request” in the subject. Provide enough information to identify the request, but do not send identification documents unless an appropriate verification process is requested. We will respond within the period required by applicable law. Where applicable, you may also complain to your local data-protection authority. Exercising an applicable privacy right will not result in unlawful discrimination.
If you receive Institute marketing communications, use the unsubscribe method provided or contact us. Service-related replies may still be sent where appropriate. The current website has no newsletter submission function.
11. Children and young participants
The current website is intended for general information and enquiries by adults, including educators and organizers. It is not designed to collect information directly from children under 13. If information about a child has been provided inappropriately, contact the privacy address so the matter can be reviewed. Any future program involving minors will need appropriate age-related notices, permissions, and participant safeguards before collection or participation.
12. External links, updates, and contact
Links to universities, museums, resources, and other organizations lead to services with their own privacy practices. A link does not establish a partnership or make the Institute responsible for another provider’s processing.
We will revise this notice if the Institute’s information practices change and update the date shown above. Additional notice or choices will be provided when required. New features such as enrollment, payments, newsletters, or archival contributions will need privacy information appropriate to those features before they are enabled.
Privacy contact: Institute for African History and Heritage.
Email: privacy@therealreturngh.com
Support: support@therealreturngh.com