eBario and
Bario Radio
A Research Project Implemented by
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
supported by
DAGS, MOSTI, Telekom Malaysia,Japan Official Development Assistance, Maxis ,RHA & RKS
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Why Bario?
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Satisfy our criteria for a rural, remote location
Very limited basic infrastructure
No telecommunication service
Not accessible by road
Real case of “digital divide” and “digital poverty”
Community readiness to participate
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eBario project
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A National Pilot Project on Bridging the Digital Divide
Multi-Disciplinary Research
Community Service + Faculty Research
National and International Research Grants
Local and Foreign Collaborators/Partners
Inter-organizational support
Objectives
• To define the extent to which contemporary ICT could
deliver sustainable social and economic development to
remote rural communities
• To identify further needs and opportunities within such
communities that can be satisfied by the innovative use
of contemporary ICT
VSAT At School
VSAT At Clinic
VSAT At Telecentre
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Telephone
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Telecentre Today
Roles and Impact of eBario
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eBario in SAR
• Helicopter crash: 12 Jul ’04
• Search and Rescue:16 days
– Hampered by bad weather
& inaccessible terrain
– Sophisticated technologies
– Police, Military, Royal M’sian
Air Force, Allies, locals
• Required much coordination
and communication
• Bario: Operations centre
– Phones, fax, Internet
– Press release/reports direct
from Bario
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Benefits: Improvement of lives
• Communication with family
– “… bereaved never reached their
loved ones in time … word always
arrived too late”
– Now, they do
• Emergencies
– “ … flight turned back due to bad
weather”
– Thanks to the phone
“… flight persuaded to return in
the afternoon”
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Overcoming Educational Exclusion
• Secondary School Principal said:
– “ … rural students always started at a
disadvantage when they left Bario”
– “ … need to bridge the gap between the
shy, unexposed students and their
aggressive, well-informed counterparts in
town”
• Compulsory computer classes
• Students work in paddy fields for club
subscriptions, diskettes
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Focus on tourism
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Telecentre being utilised by community
Transition of telecentre’s role
– Focus on sustainability issues
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Numerous areas of opportunities
– To improve livelihood and the quality of lives of the community
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Need to capitalise on strengths
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Climate
Nature
Culture
People
Obvious choice is tourism
– Prior to the eBario project, tourism already existed
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Determine the roles in which the Telecentre can play
Culture
• Dress and Dance
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Products: Handicrafts
Salt
Rice
Pineapple
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• eBario Knowledge Fair
– http://www.ebarioknowledgefair.org
Developmental
Conferencing
TOTAL VISITORS COMING TO BARIO ACCORDING TO THE
LODGES' VISITOR BOOKS FROM YEAR 1997 TO 2006
1200
TOTAL VISITORS
1000
800
600
Visitor
400
200
0
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
YEAR
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Lodges
Accommodation
No. of Hits
1. Nancy Harris Homestay
1,936
2. Junglebluesdream Art Gallery & Home Stay
1,820
3. Tarawe's Lodge
1,683
4. Gems Home Stay
1,486
5. Leminan Lodge
1,477
6. Labang Longhouse
1,441
7. Ngimat Ayu’s Home Stay
1,437
8. Mustapha Lodge aka Sri Kenangan
1,420
9.JR Lodge aka Barview Lodge
1,358
10. De Plateau Lodge
1,347
11. Batu Ritung Home Stay
1,321
12. JK View Lodge
1,247
13. Balas Home Stay
1,243
Benefits and impact
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More visitors; more income
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Lodge owners
Cultural groups
Handicraft makers (more sales)
Food preparers (sellers)
Shop-owners
Tour guides
Transport providers
Farmers
(more commission for the
telecentre)
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Local economic ecosystem gains
(airlines too)
Side benefit
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Reduced rural-urban migration
Women’s
participation
– Closer community
And running of the telecentre
Community empowerment
Computer training
Pico-hydro system
installation
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Sustainability
• Financial sustainability
– More visitors to Bario
– More revenue from operations
• Human Resource Sustainability
– Empowered community
• Equipped with necessary skills
– Proactive use of technology
– Because of the engagement/involvement
• Sense of ownership, commitment
– Community Awareness
• Community realise the importance of the telecentre
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eBario as Internet Service
Provider
• Internet access over the
whole of Bario
• WiFi and sustainability
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Powered by solar panels
Rechargeable batteries at
relay points
Internet Access from
Telecentre
VoIP
Lodge/School/Offices/Homes
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Newest Phase…
• Recognition from Malaysian Government
• Testing replication of the eBario Model
– Kampung Buayan – eBuayan (Sabah)
– Kampung Long Lamai – eLamai (Sarawak)
– Ba’Kelalan –eBakelalan (Sarawak)
– Fourth site (Sabah)
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eBario Living Laboratory
Sdn Bhd – ISITI
Development
Research
Propagation
Specialist area
Social benefit
Living laboratory
Academic impact
Social impact
Evidence
Replication
Policy advocacy
Village incubator
eBario
Buayan
Ba’Kelalan
Larapan
Bario
Long Lamai
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BBC – Community Radio
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Timeline
2007
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November 2001, first eBario Knowledge Fair; eBario Vision for ICTs and Indigenous Peoples
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June 2008, eBario Sdn Bhd submits application to IFAD for fund to set up a community radio station
in Bario, following consultations with the community; RKS, JKKKK
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January 2009, the award was approved
July 2009, the grant was transferred
September 2009, a license application was submitted to MCMC
October 2009, MCMC officials visited Bario
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January 2010, the application was revised based on feedback from the officials
September 2010, MCMC amended their licensing policy, issued a license to eBario and published
their guidelines on community radio in Malaysia.
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January 2011, eBario submits application for equipment certification to SIRIM.
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October 2011, eBario radio station installed.
2008
2009
2010
2011
Supporting Research
Bario Radio Footprint
25km radius
Purpose:
•Remoteness and isolation
•There are few roads, no grid-based electricity supply.
•Encroachment into the rainforests threatens
environment and livelihoods.
•Loss of cultural identity;
•Poverty; isolated communities left behind by national
development.
•Neglect; the peoples of the area are poorly
represented in mainstream media.
Benefits.
•Mitigation of their isolation and remoteness
•More effective opposition to irregular logging
•Enrichment and preservation of the local
cultures;
•Reductions in poverty as greater levels of
information are diffused throughout the
isolated communities
Expected Results
•A more cohesive community; airing and discussion of
social problems.
•A better connected population; rapid and widespread
communication of important messages.
•More social inclusion; by reaching everyone in their
homes
•A more democratic organization
•More culturally robust people.
Technology Partner
Movie
here
Cost
£1500 = RM7,300
£4000 = RM19,600
£9750 = RM 47,700*
Includes installation and training
Plus premises and antenna tower
*Bario Radio
RADIOACTIVE PROJECTS:
•AfroReggae Digital, Brazil
•Baraza, Kenya
•DMCR, Cameroon
•Flambeau, Cameroon
•Itinerante, Mexico
•Kapilvastu, Nepal
•Nudo Mixteco, Mexico
•RadioActive, Nepal
•RMA, Madagascar
•194, Palestine
Sustainability
•Short term: International support
•Medium term: International support phasing
out and national support phasing in.
•Long term: Sustainable through an effective
partnership strategy; regular assessments that
demonstrate results; and strong management
capacity to attract and manage diverse
partnerships effectively.
Broadcast Content
a) National and international news
b) Current affairs
c) Developmental information
d) Educational programmes
e) Health information
f) Weather reports
g) Interviews with local and visiting dignitaries
h) Entertainment
i) Cultural activities
j) Voices of the people; local documentaries and oral histories
k) Popular music and music from local performers
l) Group discussions
m) Farming information
n) Special interest item for; youth, women, farmers, elderly, businessmen, etc.
o) Family announcements
Local Demand for Radio
No Broadcasting of:
•Threatening national security;
•Betraying state secrets;
•Offending public sensitivities;
•Inciting violence or hatred;
•Being disrespectful of anyone’s cultural and religious norms;
•Engaging in political debate;
•Transgressing the norms of ethical reporting and broadcasting;
•Distorting the truth;
•Discriminating against any groups;
•Deliberately targeting a cross-border audience in Kalimantan,
Indonesia.
Thank you
Consider attending the Third eBario
Knowledge Fair, November 16-18
2011