The thirty-first edition of the Adeje Summer University, which will take place from 22nd to 26th July, complements the schedule of courses and workshops with cultural activities including concerts by local groups, art exhibitions, meetings of young Canary Island talents, and the screening of the film Campeonex 2, presented by award-winning actor Jesús Vidal.
One of the highlights this year is the inaugural presentation of the founder of the NGO Athletes Without Borders, Faustino Afonso. The elite athlete and primary care physician will discuss the culture of effort, one of the themes through the courses this year.
Afonso will delve into his own experiences and examples to reveal the keys to achieving goals and overcoming life’s challenges, which are the focus of his opening lecture, in Spanish, on 19th July in the Adeje Auditorium, marking the start of the twenty courses and workshops planned for this year.
Alongside the educational programme, UVA 2024 features a dozen complementary activities, including three exhibitions starting from 22nd July, ranging from magical realism to fantastic art, on show in the main hall of the Adeje Auditorium until 26th July.
The "Bold Exhibition, Carrera por la Vida Foundation" raises awareness of breast cancer through a selection of photographs depicting people affected by this disease, “from the beauty and courage they project,” according to its creator, Dutch photographer Caroline Sikkenk. This initiative, promoted by the Canary Foundation Carrera por la Vida, will be open from 22nd to 26th July, along with the "Retrospective of the Tenerife Moda International Young Designers Competition", showcasing the work of the 13 winners from 2009 to 2024, available until mid-August at the Duke Shop shopping centre (The Duke Gallery).
Street concerts
There will be a series open-air concerts in the Calle Grande, Adeje during the univeristy week. The first concert (Monday 22nd) features Tío Franklin, a musical group whose repertoire includes major soul and rhythm and blues hits from the 60s and 70s. On Tuesday 23rd, also at 9 pm, it's the turn of Vinomios Folk, a group from Arona. Last but not least, on Wednesday 24th, Quimbao Lanuit, a quintet whose music blends Canary Island and Cuban roots, will perform.
In addition to music, film will also be present in this edition with the screening of the film Campeonex 2, accompanied by a film workshop with a special guest, Jesús Vidal, one of ithe film's leading leading actors, who will give a talk beforehand, on Tuesday, 23rd July, at 6 pm in the Adeje Auditorium.
Talks, in Spanish, will be given by young Canary Island talents who have excelled in various fields, featuring in the "LL Dialogues", organised on 22nd July at 7 pm in the Adeje Auditorium. The singer Agoney, athlete Lucía Blanco, writer Covadonga García, bartender Jonathan Mesa, Adeje Town Councillor Coraima Afonso, and Canary Island activist Victoria Ballesteros will discuss overcoming challenges and resilience.
"El limite lo pones tú" (you put your own limits) is the title of the conference to be given by Alex Roca, alongside Carmen Maza, on 24th July, at 7 pm, in the Adeje Auditorium. Roca Campillo has been a true example of overcoming obstacles since he suffered herpetic viral encephalitis at six months old, a disease that, despite its limitations and severity, has not prevented him from winning five triathlons, eleven half-marathons, and the Titan Desert race in 2019, a feat that made him the first person with cerebral palsy to achieve such a milestone.
Tickets for these parallel activities are priced at 5 euros each and are free for UVA 2024 students. Anyone interested in registering can do so at the following link: www.adeje.es/uva/agenda.
