It all began in Mölndal, where the holiday farm staff in the fall of 2000 began a discussion about what goals one thought for the business and how to measure the extent to which they reached. What was found was to support young people to satisfy their "social needs", such as the need to experience community, responsibility and ability to influence. In order to see how successful it was, a questionnaire was addressed to the young people who visited the business. Key figures were also provided for those who visited the activity (gender, age, etc.) and what these visits cost. The aim was to be able to experience quality in relation to the target group and cost and to compare the results between the recreation centers and over time.

The reactions did not allow them to wait. Both young people and managers and politicians were very positive and the business quickly gained a significant boost in terms of both resources and visits. More resources, in turn, resulted in more staff, more business and a measurable, higher quality ..

The rumors about this spread after a time in the immediate area and Jonas Agdur, who was then the head of Mölndal, was commissioned to conduct similar discussions with the staff in Kungälv and Öckerö. What was found in these discussions was largely identical to what was found in Mölndal and after some minor adjustments, the three municipalities had the same goals and a common system to follow them up!

Based on this, KEKS 2005 started as a collaborative project between the recreational farms in Mölndal, Kungälv and Öckerö. Their idea was that they together would follow up and develop the business. They thought they were stronger together than each other and that they had a lot to learn from each other at the same time. And it proved to be correct.

Since then it has rolled on. More and more municipalities have joined and together we have shaped both the ideas and the tools that today constitute KEKS. Even though many of the thoughts we had in 2005 remain alive today, much has happened since then. The original survey has been developed and been web-based, via has created their unique digital documentation system "Logbook", they have created a survey to follow group activities, they have formulated and published their Vision for Open Youth Activities  and other writings they have researched about participation and published the report Customizing or expanding

In addition, they have implemented an almost incredible amount of seminars, training courses and courses to strengthen and develop their staff skills.

Most importantly, they may, through follow-up, discussion and reflection together, have developed their understanding of open youth activities; what is its supportive idea and what it takes for this to be realized.

But even if they are really proud of what they have achieved so far, they realize at the same time that they have a long way to go ... and that they like to get along on their way.

Their goals

KEKS's goal is about the effects their activities will have on the young people involved - about what they are about to accomplish , not what they should do . For what to do, for example, to work with music or camps depends, of course, on where you work and what young people you want to reach. What's interesting is instead what you want to happen to the young people who participate, what effects the business should have, for who and at what price.

Monitoring and measuring effects is not easy. Especially if these are described in terms of reduced crime, increased gender equality or strengthened democracy. Even harder it will be if you want to prove the connection between just the individual activity and some effect ... It is as well known many other factors that affect how these numbers develop, such as the availability of drugs and the free choice of school.

Nevertheless, these are just the goals most businesses still have. The consequence is that you can never credibly show that you actually reach them. Instead, you try to describe what you do. But the connection to the effects that one wishes to achieve, democracy etc., often appears to be more or less acclaimed.