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Privacy Notice
Greenheart International
Effective Date: 1/9/2019
This privacy notice describes how Greenheart International collects, uses, and discloses Personally Identifying Information (also known as “PII”) or Personal Data (collectively “Personal Information”) from and about users of Greenheart International websites. This privacy notice also applies to any associated paper forms. Please read this privacy notice before using Greenheart International websites or submitting any personal information.
These practices may be changed at any time. Changes will be posted along with the date of the change. You should review this privacy notice when you visit Greenheart International websites to make sure that you understand how Personal Information is collected, used, and disclosed.
The Personal Information you provide to us is only used to:
We may use non-Personal Information for additional reasons described in the remainder of this privacy notice.
If you identify yourself to us by sending us an email with questions or comments, we may retain your comments for future reference.
Greenheart collects Personal Information, which is information that on its own or in combination with other information may be used to identify, contact, or locate an individual. Examples include:
Greenheart International collects other information that relates to you but does not identify you. Examples include clickstream data and web-browsing information (such as the date and time you visit a website, whether you click on various advertisements or links and the search terms you enter when using a website), and information about your computer, device and internet connection, and geographic location.
We collect Personal Information from you in the following ways:
We may share information gathered by us from Greenheart International websites with governmental agencies or other companies assisting us in providing services to you. We may do so when:
Information provided under one of the four preceding bullet points will not be used by those receiving it for marketing purposes, unless specifically authorized by the user.
Third parties who provide webhosting services or other services that make possible the operation of Greenheart International websites and the services you request through the websites may have access to information that you provide us to the extent that those third parties require access to our databases to service the websites.
In connection with the sale or transfer of all or part of our assets, we reserve the right to transfer information we have obtained from or about you.
We are not responsible for any breach of security or for any actions of any third parties that receive information from us.
Greenheart International websites are hosted and maintained in the United States of America. Your Personal Information may be transmitted to countries outside of the European Economic Area, including the United States of America. You can obtain details of the mechanism under which your personal data is transferred outside the EU by contacting us. If your Personal Information is transferred outside the European Economic Area to third party service providers, we will take steps to ensure that your Personal Information receives the same level of protection as if it remained within the European Economic Area, including by entering into data transfer agreements using the European Commission approved Standard Contractual Clauses, or by relying on certification schemes such as the EU–US Privacy Shield.
Greenheart International websites use cookie and tracking technology to collect non-Personal Information. Our system also automatically gathers information about areas you visit on our websites, and about the links you select from within one of our websites to the other areas of the World Wide Web or elsewhere online. We use such information in the aggregate to understand how our users as a group use the services and resources provided on our websites. This way we know which areas of our websites are preferred by our users, which areas need improvement, and what technologies are being used so that we may continually improve our websites. Personal Information cannot be collected via cookies and other tracking technology, however, if you previously provided us with your Personal Information, cookies may be tied to such information. Aggregate cookie and tracking information may be shared with third parties but that aggregate information does not identify individual website users. Our web servers do not record visitor email addresses unless that information is submitted by the visitor. We may determine what technology is available through your browser to provide you with the most appropriate version of a web page. Greenheart International uses Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Gravity Forms, Yoast, Formstack, Calendly, GoOverseas, and other web traffic tracking tools.
Greenheart International websites contain links to other websites. These links are for your convenience. We do not control, endorse or review the privacy notices of other websites, which may be different than this privacy notice. You should review the privacy notice of other websites before choosing to disclose Personal Information.
Greenheart takes steps to secure your Personal Information. We exercise care in providing secure transmissions when we need to transfer your Personal Information from our servers. Our websites use secure server software encryption, which is indicated by https in the url of the website. Encryption is a common method of ensuring that information remains private. Greenheart International cannot guarantee or warrant that the information that you transmit to us, or any communications is completely secure.
Greenheart International only retains data for as long as necessary for the purposes indicated in this privacy notice or for such other period as may be permitted or required by law.
For children age 14-16, Greenheart International takes additional steps to protect their Personal Information. We do not intend to collect Personal Information from children aged 13 or younger. These additional steps include:
The marks Greenheart, Greenheart Heart Logo, and Sobresmesa are either registered or unregistered trademarks of Greenheart International. All Rights Reserved. Any unauthorized use is prohibited.
Certain jurisdictions provide their residents or citizens with certain rights about their Personal Information. These may include the right to request access to the data we hold about you, to obtain a copy of your Personal Information, to request that your Personal Information be erased, to correct inaccurate information, to ask us to restrict how we process your Personal Information, or to withdraw your consent to our processing of your Personal Information. Your individual rights will depend on your residency and citizenship.
Please contact us using the following information for more information about this privacy notice, to notify us of a concern or complaint, or to exercise any of the individual rights you may have.
Data Protection Officer
By mail: 742 N LaSalle Dr. Chicago, IL 60654 Suite 300, USA
By email: click here
By phone: +1 312-944-2544
Additionally, all marketing emails and newsletters from Greenheart International allow you to opt out of further correspondence. You can do so by clicking the link within the emails, which will guide you on how to opt-out.
Hello, I am Samira from Ghana, placed in Richmond, Maine and I would like to share my story to bring a spark to the eyes of exchange students (future or current).
Unlike many exchange students, I was placed in an academy: The Maine Arts Academy. This is a school based on arts–singing, acting, dancing, and many other talents but it also offered core classes. My school has an immense passion for art hence, there was no room for sports at my school. Honestly, in the beginning, I was a little sad because I wanted to participate in basketball. However, I did not let that demoralize me. At my new school, I was required to pick a major. I remember being asked on my first day what my major was and I said Biology and Chemistry. A little embarrassing? Now, a funny memory. I took a pause and reflected on myself… How much I liked to sing even though I was not good at it. How much I liked to watch movies even though I criticize some acting skills. I then thought to myself, “why not be the one to act?’’
After my first week of attending my American high school, I loved it! My art classes feel like a break from reality and the scenery at my school makes me feel as though I am in some American high school movie. I mean for the pep rally, we had performances from the students in the hall. It was amazing, their vocals were awesome! Every morning at school, we are welcomed with the beautiful sound of a cello by our Biology teacher. At lunch, we are entertained with musical performances by any student who wishes to sing. Every day is simply mesmerizing!
On my second week of school, I was required to perform my first five minutes play with my class partner in my Intro to Acting class. After rehearsing the short script for about 30 minutes, it was time to stage it and I did just that. I was a bit nervous, but I mustered up the courage and did it. A lady from the office was by chance present and saw my performance. After school, on my way to the bus, she called me and informed me she had nominated me and some other students to participate in an upcoming workshop mainly for Black, Indigenous People Of Colour (BIPOC) theater students. At that immediate moment, I was stunned. When I got home, I found out she had sent an email to my host mom. It was a two-day event.
My host mom is a Regional Manager for Greenheart. This means she is very busy and has a lot of work to do with other exchange students and their host families. But as soon as she found out about my workshop, she planned her whole two days around my activity. The workshop was at 4:30 pm on 3rd November 2021. My mom drove an hour to pick me up from school, and drove me to the workshop which was another hour from my school. At the workshop, I got the opportunity to meet the actor of the play, Cartography. We learned about what the Cartography play was about, how the idea came about, shared our cultural background, history, family, tribes through acting and games we played and how we were all currently in America. I also met students from other schools who were the same age as me and looked like me (religion and color). It was the best experience ever.
After the workshop, we were presented with tickets to watch the play the following day. I was asked if I wanted to bring anyone along with me and I said, ”Yes, my host family”. I could not believe my eyes. They gave me four tickets. I was on the moon! When my host mom picked me up, I told her about my day and the tickets and she was happy for me and agreed to go together as a family.
The next day after school, my host dad picked me up at the gas station since my mom was making dinner. We got home, dressed up, had dinner, and left for the performance. The Merrill Auditorium was huge and beautiful. I had never seen anything like that before. We arrived early and were ushered in. We found our seats –right in front. They had loud music on which I continuously tapped my feet to. Then, to my surprise, they began to play a song from my country. OMG! This was the least coincidence that could have happened. Then after, they performed the play. I loved the entire performance and everything that happened within those 48 hours.
It was the best experience ever! After the show, I met with the characters, thanked and congratulated them. I also had the opportunity to see the governor of my state there. On our way home, I could not stop smiling and felt my cheeks hurt.
It was the best moment of my life. I appreciate my family, YES program, and school for this experience.
*******
THANK YOU Samira for sharing your story!
If you spark to this story and want to help a foreign exchange student’s dreams come true, consider being a host family. Learn more about hosting an international exchange student.
The U.S. Department of State’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program provides high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations the opportunity to live and study for an academic year in the United States. Applicants compete for YES scholarships through a rigorous, merit-based selection process. Those who win scholarships live with American host families, attend high school, and engage in community service and civic education activities. YES students serve as youth ambassadors of their home country, promoting mutual understanding and forming lasting relationships with their host families and communities. They have the opportunity to learn about U.S. society and values and also help educate Americans about their home country and culture. The YES program was established by Congress in October 2002 in response to the events of September 11, 2001. Learn more about the YES Program and the scholarships that help students like Samira experience the U.S. way of life.