Cape Verde to Launch Volunteer Passport for Social Service
The Cape Verdean government is moving to formalize and reward community service by implementing a “volunteer passport,” a move designed to bolster professional resumes and offer tangible perks to those who give back to society.
Rewarding Community Service
Adélsia Almeida, the Minister of Family, Inclusion, Social Development, and Labor, announced the initiative during the launch of the Donana Foundation’s new volunteer program at the University of Cape Verde (UniCV) in Praia. The passport aims to revive and modernize an initiative first regulated 13 years ago but never fully realized.
To qualify for the document, volunteers must be enrolled in a registered organization and complete a minimum number of service hours. According to Almeida, the passport will act as a formal certification of the holder\’s contribution to society, providing a significant boost to their professional curriculum vitae.
Tangible Benefits and “Positive Discrimination”
Beyond professional recognition, the government intends to offer practical rewards for passport holders. The Minister highlighted that the document will grant access to various goods and services, including discounts on books and school supplies.
Almeida described the strategy as a form of “positive discrimination,” ensuring that those who dedicate their time to social causes receive public recognition and material advantages in return for their efforts.
Updating Aging Legislation
The implementation of the passport coincides with a broader push to modernize Cape Verde’s labor and social laws. Almeida noted that the current volunteer law is 16 years old and requires a comprehensive review to align with modern social dynamics.
“There is a need to improve that law and adjust it to current volunteering needs,” Almeida stated, adding that the government will consult with stakeholders to determine if existing regulations need updates before the passport is officially rolled out.
Scaling Up Social Impact
The announcement served as the backdrop for the Donana Foundation’s expansion. The foundation, which operates the Food Bank of Cape Verde and various other social projects, currently manages a network of over 500 volunteers.
Through a new partnership with UniCV, the foundation is digitizing its volunteer database to streamline operations and more effectively manage its growing participant list. This digital transition is expected to play a key role in the integration of the government’s new volunteer passport system.
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