WORLD AMATEUR RADIO YOUTH DAY 2007 WITH
N0UQZ JIM BAUDO

Wednesday, April 18, is a special day for radio amateurs around the globe.
That's when the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
and its member societies representing more than 150
countries around the world celebrate World Amateur Radio Day 2007,
commemorating the founding of the IARU 82 years ago. The theme for this
year's celebration is "Amateur Radio: Allowing youth to connect the world."

Despite the Internet and cellular telephones, Amateur Radio continues to
attract people worldwide by providing free international communication and
friendship. Because it does not rely on, nor need, established
telecommunication infrastructure, Amateur Radio can reach every corner of
the world -- and even into space!

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
program offers an opportunity for students to
experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by allowing them to converse with
ISS crew members about their scientific research, the space station, the
human spaceflight program and everyday life in space -- a unique educational
experience. With the help of Amateur Radio clubs and individual operators,
orbiting astronauts and cosmonauts speak with young people around the world
via ham radio, showing schools, teachers, students, parents and communities
how Amateur Radio energizes youngsters about science, technology, and
learning.

Youth programs also are available through Scouting, as many thousands of
Scouts in the US and elsewhere get together over the airwaves each year
during the third weekend of October for Jamboree On The Air (JOTA)
. Participating Boy and Girl
Scouts and Guides from all over the world speak to each other via Amateur
Radio, offering these young people the exciting opportunity to make friends,
exchange experiences and share ideas with their peers in other countries,
sometimes without leaving home.

Since 1958 when the first JOTA took place, millions of Scouts have met each
other through this event. Many JOTA contacts foster pen-pal relationships
and links between Scout troops that last for years. Numerous scouts and
leaders hold Amateur Radio licenses, while others participate in JOTA at
stations provided by local Amateur Radio clubs and individual radio
amateurs.

Young radio amateurs also form organizations of their own. One example is
the World Wide Young Contesters (WWYC) , made up of
radio amateurs under age 30 who enjoy participating in international
contests. Several members of the club qualified to compete in the World
Radiosport Team Championship last July in Brazil.

While radio amateurs have been in the news repeatedly for providing
communication during disasters and emergencies, the lion's share of their
activities remains the excitement and joy of contacting distant and remote
areas of the world, learning directly about each others' regions and lives
and trying different ways to contact other hams in far-flung places.