Privacy Policy

Last updated: 29 May 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Richard Gorven ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, stores and shares your personal information when you visit beforeyoumentor.com (the "site") or buy from us. We are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA) of South Africa.

1. Who we are

The site is owned and operated by Richard Gorven, based in Kloof, Durban, South Africa. For privacy queries, contact info@beforeyoumentor.com.

2. What we collect

• Order details — your name, email address, cellphone number, and (for delivery) postal address, captured when you place an order.
• Mentorship map submissions — your 16 answers and, optionally, your role (mentor/mentee), country, age range and gender.
• Stories — any story you choose to share via the Share Your Story form, plus optional name, role, gender and country.
• Technical data — limited server logs (IP address, browser type, request time) kept briefly by our hosting provider for security and operations.

We do not see or store your credit card details. All payment information is collected and processed directly by PayFast on their secure platform.

3. How we use your information

• To process and fulfil orders for the book and prints.
• To contact you about your order (e.g. collection arrangements, delivery quotes, or to resolve issues).
• To display anonymous, aggregated mentorship map results in the public "collective" view.
• To preserve and, where appropriate, share submitted mentorship stories.
• To respond to your queries.

4. Who we share with

We only share your information with the third parties needed to run the site:

• PayFast — to process card payments. See PayFast's own privacy policy at payfast.io/privacy-policy.
• Netlify — hosting provider for the site and serverless functions.
• Supabase — database provider where map submissions and stories are stored.
• Courier partners — when fulfilling delivery orders, your name, address and phone number are shared with the chosen courier.

We do not sell your information, and we do not share it for marketing.

5. Cookies

The site does not use tracking, advertising or analytics cookies. Only essential cookies needed for normal site function may be set by our hosting provider or by PayFast during checkout.

6. Storage and security

Data is transmitted over HTTPS and stored securely with our database provider. Sensitive credentials (such as the keys our functions use to talk to the database and to PayFast) are kept in encrypted environment variables that are never exposed to the browser.

7. Your rights under POPIA

You may, at any time:

• request access to the personal information we hold about you;
• request correction of inaccurate information;
• request deletion of your personal information (subject to legitimate retention obligations);
• withdraw consent for processing where we rely on it;
• lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa).

To exercise any of these rights, email info@beforeyoumentor.com.

8. Retention

We keep order records for as long as needed to fulfil your order and meet legal/accounting obligations. Mentorship map submissions and stories are kept indefinitely as part of the public collective unless you ask us to remove them.

9. Children

The site is not directed at people under the age of 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top will reflect any change. Continued use of the site after a change means you accept the updated policy.

11. Contact

For any privacy-related question or request, email info@beforeyoumentor.com.