Many young women have never heard of amateur radio, or assume it is a men’s technical hobby. You cannot choose what you have never been shown.
People imagine you need an engineering degree to take part. You don’t — you need curiosity, a willingness to listen, and someone to extend the first invitation.
Once a woman sits at the rig and speaks to someone on the other side of the world, the barriers simply vanish. My job is to make that first contact warm and within reach.
“Once a woman makes that first contact, the ‘barriers’ vanish. The challenge is simply making that first invitation welcoming.”
— Bharathi Devulapalli, VU2RBI
I have seen so many girls arrive at NIAR shy, hesitant, unsure whether they belong in a technical space. One comes to mind — she started knowing nothing about radio theory. Within months she was not just passing her exams; she was building her own antennas and leading operations during drills. Watching that shift from uncertainty to absolute confidence is exactly why I do this. She didn’t only learn to operate a radio — she learned that she could master any technology she set her mind to.
One of my favourite YL activities is our ALARA net, which has run without a break since the corona days of 2021. Every YL is warmly invited to check in — it is a friendly place to find your voice on the air, meet other women operators, and simply enjoy the hobby together. Connect to the ALARA conference on EchoLink and say hello.
1230 GMT, the same time each session.
Every YL operator is welcome, six days a week.
Our OM (gentlemen) friends join us once a week.
Connect to the ALARA conference to check in.