KEKS was founded in 2005 as a network for the development of quality and competence in the field of youth work. Today KEKS consists of 43 local departments for youth work and about 250 youth centres. In order to improve quality we have developed a unique model for quality assurance in which we also can set goals and measure to what extent they are achieved. Our ability to satisfy the social needs of young people is here combined with more solid economic figures to give the full picture of our work and how it can be improved. On the basis of this we work with the development of competence, methods and organisation among our member organisations in order to enhance the quality of youth work.
KEKS also offers a wide range of services to facilitate access to European information for both youth and youth workers. KEKS works with youth exchanges, EVS, seminars and often try to combine this with local projects around democracy, gender or other important issues. We have vast experience in working with both European as well as Euromed countries.
In order to administer the network of municipality departments KEKS is today organized as a non-profit NGO, “KEKS stödförening” (“KEKS support association”, abbreviation KEKS). KEKS is also a member of Eurodesk Sweden.
During the years KEKS has developed different specialized methods for documentation and evaluation of youth work, documentation and recognition of informal and non-formal learning as well as instruments for competence development of youth workers. KEKS is also engaged in research on youth work issues such as participation and non-formal learning and has continuous contacts with researchers, universities and educators of youth workers. KEKS has also published a number of booklets on youth work and youth work methods.
KEKS is experienced in both organizing international projects as well as in organizing courses, workshops and seminars related to the topic of the proposed project and has, among other things, supported over 20 local departments to develop quality indicators for youth work.
KEKS is organizing between 4-8 big seminars a year that approaches different topics related to youth work (e.g. inclusion, participation, marginalized youngsters, documentation of youth work etc.). We also organize regular courses and workshops on the methods that KEKS uses (e.g. the Logbook – youth work documentation software; ELD - discussion and reflection method for documenting non-formal education competences).
KEKS is supporting and educating their members in the method ELD (Experience Learning Description) that aims to validate non-formal learning and with the aim to make visible the learning achieved in youth work. www.eldkompetens.se
Beside this KEKS has an international department working with offering consultancy for project writing, implementation and reporting. KEKS’ international department regularly offers courses in project writing, advertising of activities etc.
www.keks.se
Participating members in the KEKS network are;
Gothenburg City, district of Angered
Gothenburg City, district of West Hisingen