Putting in that little extra on the side means students can receive an official diploma to place next to their certificate. That is the signal in the initiative from Minister for the Interior and Social Affairs Karen Ellemann and Minister for Education Bertel Haarder.

20 hours of volunteer work

All students taking part in youth education are to be offered programs with at least 20 hours of volunteer work. Examples of volunteer work include work as a soccer coach or homework help in a charity. Students’ exam certificates will show that they have been offered volunteer work. And they will receive a diploma for completed voluntary work.

According to a survey from 2006, volunteer work is a popular pastime among young Danes. Two thirds of young people aged 16-25, who are not already doing volunteer work, state that they would be interested if they were encouraged.

Voluntary work shows personality

Bertel Haarder says:
“Having done a voluntary effort as leader, helper, visitor or mentor can be just as qualifying as many school subjects. It says a lot about a person and therefore we should, as is the case in many other countries, make volunteer work a natural part of the CV.”

The present initiative comes from a committee set up by The Ministry of the Interior and Social Affairs. The committee has just finished its work.

Apart from The Ministry of the Interior and Social Affairs, the committee includes representatives from The Ministry of Education, The Danish Ministry of Culture as well as leaders’ associations, student organisations and voluntary organisations.

The initiative is set to begin in February 2010.