Adonia

Adonia - Associação is an international evangelical christian youth organisation focused on cultural and recreational development of young people. Its headquarters is in Palmela (Portugal) and this is a non-profit organisation. Our main activity is musical camps for children and teenagers. Within the time frame of just 4 days, an entire musical play is rehearsed with an average of 40 singers on stage. In the last 3 days of the week, the musical play is presented to the general public. As an outcome of our intervention, the young people that we work with are occupied during their school break, but they’re also supervised by adults and focused on their musical and performance skills.
Adonia’s uttermost long term goal is to invest in young people’s lives in such a way that they can discover and reach their full potential as adults in the future, to learn and develop competencies, with our support, far more necessary than just know how to sing and perform. During the week of camp it is expected from our campers that they take part in activities that will teach them the value of team work, professionalism, persistence, overcome fears (like speak in public), kindness, patience, tolerance, etc. These are considered imperative for future jobs (when adults) and a life in society. Therefore, we have a direct social action, aiming prevention.
We also acknowledge, that not only through formal and non-formal teaching, but also through the environment created in camp, bonding by friendship children and teenagers from different backgrounds, they become aware of the discrepancy of life experiences among them, and learn to accept and respect different cultures, ethnicities, nationalities and social status/condition.
Our greatest joy is in the journey to achieve our goal and see our older teens to join our cause a few years down the line, giving back what they have received.
Other activities of the Association, in addition to the musical camps during school break are:
Gospel Weekends, where young people and adults rehearse a repertoire during 2 days, to be presented to the public on Sunday;
Rock Camps, where participants develop skills on playing a musical instrument, enabling young people with financial needs to learn music outside music school;
Courses, where participants are trained in different areas, such as audio and sound technitian, acting, choir, leaders for holiday camps, first aid, among others;
Sport events, such as football tournaments and races for fundraising;
Several concerts, specially at Christmas time.