#Japan #Kanagawa #Digital Garage #VC Technology #Kanagawa Action

Digital Certificates to Promote Volunteerism in Kanagawa

Digital Garage (DG) is set to implement a pilot program aimed at recognizing volunteer efforts in an innovative approach. Starting with the environmental volunteer event "KANAGAWA Clean Action 2025", held from October 18th, DG plans to issue digital certificates utilizing Verifiable Credentials (VC) technology to participants. This initiative aims to enhance the value of volunteering by providing participants with a credible way to showcase their volunteering experience, which is increasingly viewed as an asset in educational and job applications.

The Importance of Volunteer Experience

Volunteering offers invaluable experiences that contribute to personal growth and community engagement for students and young people. It's not unusual for these individuals to reference their volunteer activities in applications for educational programs and job positions, increasingly highlighting what they immersed themselves in during their student years. However, the traditional systems for issuing volunteer certificates have lacked standardization and digital integration. Each organization issues its own certificate without a universal system or third-party evaluation that objectively presents these experiences.

In response to this, DG will collaborate with the Japan Volunteer Association, an NPO serving as a third-party issuing body. This partnership ensures that the digital certificates issued will be based on reliable information and will employ VC technology to validate the credentials. This approach enables participants to present their volunteer experience effectively, providing a common use case for NPOs, universities, and businesses alike.

Overview of the Pilot Project

Participants in "KANAGAWA Clean Action 2025" will receive digital certificates as proof of their involvement in the event. The issuance of these certificates will be powered by the services offered by DOU, a company specializing in digital certificates, integrating their "Career Passport" feature. Participants will input their activity records into the platform, which will be matched with registered activity information from the organizing body, ensuring the generation of trustworthy certificates.

For more details about "KANAGAWA Clean Action 2025", please refer to the event page.

Future Prospects

Building on the insights gained from this pilot project, DG plans to expand partnerships with local governments, NPOs, educational institutions, and businesses. The goal is to facilitate greater participation in social activities among young people and residents. Digital Garage is actively committed to the development and implementation of services leveraging cutting-edge technology, contributing to the architecture that shapes the next generation and promotes sustainable societal advancement.

* Note: VC (Verifiable Credentials) refers to digital credentials that can verify qualifications or abilities safely online. This standardization process is established by the W3C, an international technical standardization organization.