Child Support Volunteer Recruitment Increases by Approximately 2.6 Times in 10 Years, Despite Declining Birthrate: activo Volunteer Recruitment Site Survey Ahead of Children's Day
A survey by activo, one of Japan's largest volunteer recruitment sites, reveals that despite the declining birthrate, child support volunteer recruitment has increased by approximately 2.6 times over the past decade. Online volunteering has grown 12.3 times compared to pre-COVID levels, establishing new forms of support.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 20:16
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 12:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 19:38 (7h 36m after Collected)
activo Inc. (Headquarters: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; Representative Director: Keisuke Ozawa), which operates activo, one of Japan's largest volunteer recruitment information sites, announced the results of its survey on volunteer recruitment trends in the "Child and Education" theme over the past 10 years, ahead of Children's Day on May 5th.
The survey found that the number of new volunteer recruitment postings in the "Child and Education" theme for FY2025 (April 2025 - March 2026) increased by approximately 2.6 times over the past decade. It was also discovered that there was a rapid increase following the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, "online-participating volunteers" have also expanded post-COVID, increasing 12.3 times compared to FY2019, indicating that new forms of support utilizing digital technology have become established.
## Survey Result Summary
- Despite the declining birthrate, the number of new volunteer recruitment postings in the "Child and Education" theme increased by approximately 2.6 times in 10 years.
- In FY2025, the top categories were "Child-rearing/Parenting" (1st), "Educational Disparity" (2nd), and "School Non-attendance" (3rd).
- Online volunteering increased 12.3 times compared to pre-COVID levels, introducing new forms of support.
### ▨ Child and Education Volunteer Recruitment Increases by Approximately 2.6 Times Even With Declining Birthrate
The number of newly recruited volunteers in the "Child and Education" theme for FY2025 (April 2025 - March 2026) was 2,776. This represents an increase of approximately 2.6 times compared to FY2016, ten years ago. Looking at the trend, it can be seen that there was an increase of approximately 1.9 times from FY2021 to FY2022. During the spread of COVID-19 from 2020 to 2021, there was no noticeable increase in recruitment due to restrictions on in-person support activities. However, recruitment dramatically increased in 2022 when its social impact began to become prominent.
The genre with the highest growth rate in FY2022 was "Sick Child Care" at approximately 5 times. However, the number of volunteers recruited for the broader "Child and Education" theme, without specific sub-genres, increased by approximately 2.5 times, indicating a demand for various volunteer activities related to "communication with children."
### ▨ In FY2025, "Child-rearing/Parenting" is 1st, "Educational Disparity" 2nd, and "School Non-attendance" 3rd
Looking at the breakdown of volunteer genres recruited under the "Child and Education" theme in FY2025 (April 2025 - March 2026), excluding those without specific sub-genre settings, "Child-rearing/Parenting" was ranked 1st. These volunteers primarily focus on creating places for children, such as children's cafeterias and after-school facilities, and organizing/operating events like camps, excursions, and sports.
"Educational Disparity" ranked 2nd, primarily involving learning support volunteers for children who cannot attend cram schools due to economic reasons or who struggle with school lessons for various reasons.
"School Non-attendance" ranked 3rd, covering a wide range of activities including free schools, learning support, communication support for children who are unable to attend school for various reasons, and volunteer activities dedicated to understanding the phenomenon of school non-attendance itself.
FY2025 (April 2025 - March 2026)
Child and Education Theme Volunteer Breakdown Keywords
1st Child-rearing/Parenting
2nd Educational Disparity
3rd School Non-attendance
4th Developmental Disabilities
5th Single Mothers
### ▨ Online Volunteering is 12.3 Times Higher Than Pre-COVID, New Forms of Support Emerge
Online volunteering, which can be participated in from home, gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparing FY2019 and FY2025, it has increased by 12.3 times. These activities range from direct support for children, such as online learning assistance, career counseling, mentoring, and being a conversation partner, to indirect support like brainstorming event ideas for children's spaces, public relations activities like social media information dissemination, and building educational support programs.
The widespread adoption of online communication during the pandemic has broadened the scope of volunteer activities.
### ▨ Data Analysis Comment: Keisuke Ozawa, Representative Director, activo Inc.
In 2013, while a third-year university student, Keisuke Ozawa launched a volunteer matching service for students, and in 2017, established activo Inc. Since then, with the mission of "creating infrastructure that maximizes rich social participation through the power of technology," activo has operated "activo," which lists volunteer recruitment information nationwide for all generations. The company aims to transform volunteering from something special into an everyday life choice that enriches lives, realizing a flexible and warm society overflowing with vibrant non-profit actors.
Choices for "How to Get Involved" to Consider on Children's Day
Despite the declining birthrate, volunteer recruitment in the "Child and Education" theme continues to increase. The recruitment information gathered by activo shows that local needs surrounding children are diversifying and becoming more complex. The challenges children face are wide-ranging, including economic disparity, experience gaps, and securing places to belong, and diverse support is required to address them. activo aims to continue strengthening the matching of volunteers with those in need to meet these societal demands.
The survey found that the number of new volunteer recruitment postings in the "Child and Education" theme for FY2025 (April 2025 - March 2026) increased by approximately 2.6 times over the past decade. It was also discovered that there was a rapid increase following the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, "online-participating volunteers" have also expanded post-COVID, increasing 12.3 times compared to FY2019, indicating that new forms of support utilizing digital technology have become established.
## Survey Result Summary
- Despite the declining birthrate, the number of new volunteer recruitment postings in the "Child and Education" theme increased by approximately 2.6 times in 10 years.
- In FY2025, the top categories were "Child-rearing/Parenting" (1st), "Educational Disparity" (2nd), and "School Non-attendance" (3rd).
- Online volunteering increased 12.3 times compared to pre-COVID levels, introducing new forms of support.
### ▨ Child and Education Volunteer Recruitment Increases by Approximately 2.6 Times Even With Declining Birthrate
The number of newly recruited volunteers in the "Child and Education" theme for FY2025 (April 2025 - March 2026) was 2,776. This represents an increase of approximately 2.6 times compared to FY2016, ten years ago. Looking at the trend, it can be seen that there was an increase of approximately 1.9 times from FY2021 to FY2022. During the spread of COVID-19 from 2020 to 2021, there was no noticeable increase in recruitment due to restrictions on in-person support activities. However, recruitment dramatically increased in 2022 when its social impact began to become prominent.
The genre with the highest growth rate in FY2022 was "Sick Child Care" at approximately 5 times. However, the number of volunteers recruited for the broader "Child and Education" theme, without specific sub-genres, increased by approximately 2.5 times, indicating a demand for various volunteer activities related to "communication with children."
### ▨ In FY2025, "Child-rearing/Parenting" is 1st, "Educational Disparity" 2nd, and "School Non-attendance" 3rd
Looking at the breakdown of volunteer genres recruited under the "Child and Education" theme in FY2025 (April 2025 - March 2026), excluding those without specific sub-genre settings, "Child-rearing/Parenting" was ranked 1st. These volunteers primarily focus on creating places for children, such as children's cafeterias and after-school facilities, and organizing/operating events like camps, excursions, and sports.
"Educational Disparity" ranked 2nd, primarily involving learning support volunteers for children who cannot attend cram schools due to economic reasons or who struggle with school lessons for various reasons.
"School Non-attendance" ranked 3rd, covering a wide range of activities including free schools, learning support, communication support for children who are unable to attend school for various reasons, and volunteer activities dedicated to understanding the phenomenon of school non-attendance itself.
FY2025 (April 2025 - March 2026)
Child and Education Theme Volunteer Breakdown Keywords
1st Child-rearing/Parenting
2nd Educational Disparity
3rd School Non-attendance
4th Developmental Disabilities
5th Single Mothers
### ▨ Online Volunteering is 12.3 Times Higher Than Pre-COVID, New Forms of Support Emerge
Online volunteering, which can be participated in from home, gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparing FY2019 and FY2025, it has increased by 12.3 times. These activities range from direct support for children, such as online learning assistance, career counseling, mentoring, and being a conversation partner, to indirect support like brainstorming event ideas for children's spaces, public relations activities like social media information dissemination, and building educational support programs.
The widespread adoption of online communication during the pandemic has broadened the scope of volunteer activities.
### ▨ Data Analysis Comment: Keisuke Ozawa, Representative Director, activo Inc.
In 2013, while a third-year university student, Keisuke Ozawa launched a volunteer matching service for students, and in 2017, established activo Inc. Since then, with the mission of "creating infrastructure that maximizes rich social participation through the power of technology," activo has operated "activo," which lists volunteer recruitment information nationwide for all generations. The company aims to transform volunteering from something special into an everyday life choice that enriches lives, realizing a flexible and warm society overflowing with vibrant non-profit actors.
Choices for "How to Get Involved" to Consider on Children's Day
Despite the declining birthrate, volunteer recruitment in the "Child and Education" theme continues to increase. The recruitment information gathered by activo shows that local needs surrounding children are diversifying and becoming more complex. The challenges children face are wide-ranging, including economic disparity, experience gaps, and securing places to belong, and diverse support is required to address them. activo aims to continue strengthening the matching of volunteers with those in need to meet these societal demands.