In a quiet corner of Alcabideche, just inland from the bustling coast of Cascais, sits the Associação de Radioamadores da Linha de Cascais (ARLC)—an amateur radio association whose signals carry far more than voices. They carry stories, youth, and a global ethic of peace.
Operating from Rua dos Bombeiros 159, ARLC is not merely another ham radio group. It has carved a distinct role for itself at the intersection of radio technology and scouting culture, becoming one of Portugal’s leading hubs for Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) and Jamboree On The Internet (JOTI) activities.
From Baden-Powell to Broadband
The JOTA/JOTI movement, born from the ashes of global conflict and imagined by Scouting’s founder Baden-Powell, was an inspired attempt to convert tragedy into connection. In 1957, its first edition was broadcast to mark Scouting’s 50th anniversary. By 1996, JOTA had found its digital sibling, JOTI, allowing Scouts to talk not just via shortwave but via server.
ARLC seized on this intersection of amateur radio and global citizenship, supporting these efforts in Portugal with equipment, training, and most crucially, licensed operators.
Scaling Horizons Through the Airwaves
The annual October broadcast, held over 48 hours, invites Scouts of all ages and continents to talk, code, and share experiences—powered by a patchwork of antennas, repeater rigs, and goodwill. The 2024 edition, themed “De que tamanho é o teu mundo?” (“How big is your world?”), asked young people to consider the ripple effect of local actions on global outcomes.
ARLC does more than just provide a radio link. It mentors, facilitates, and empowers, giving young Scouts their first taste of technical rigour and international dialogue. In the age of 5G and TikTok, it reminds them that slow-wave radio carries something different: intentionality.
Cascais: A Coastal Gateway to the World
ARLC’s proximity to Lisbon’s economic gravity might suggest it could easily become just another coastal club—but it resists that fate. Instead, it has emerged as a linchpin for youth empowerment, leveraging its resources and operators for civic education.
The association’s leadership understands that radio is not an escape from the world—but a way of engaging with it more honestly. They don’t merely train for contests or field days. They collaborate with national and international Scouting organizations, encouraging a form of communication that is both high-frequency and high-integrity.
Looking Ahead
With its fingers on the PTT switch and its vision tuned toward community, ARLC is a rare hybrid of technical society and youth educator. In its commitment to JOTA/JOTI, it embodies the timeless goal of amateur radio: to connect, not conquer.
As the next generation tunes in, the association helps them find not only their voice on the air—but their place in the world.
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