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A Research Project Implemented by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)

                                                                  

supported byDAGS, MOSTI, Telekom Malaysia,Japan Official Development Assistance, Maxis ,RHA & RKS

eBario and Bario Radio

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Why Bario?• 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

eBario project • 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

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VSAT At School

VSAT At Clinic

VSAT At Telecentre

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Telephone

Telecentre Today

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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

Focus on tourism• Telecentre being utilised by community• Transition of telecentre’s role

– Focus on sustainability issues• Numerous areas of opportunities

– To improve livelihood and the quality of lives of the community• Need to capitalise on strengths

– Climate– Nature– Culture– People

• Obvious choice is tourism– Prior to the eBario project, tourism already existed

• Determine the roles in which the Telecentre can play

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Culture• Dress and Dance

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Products: Handicrafts

SaltRicePineapple

• eBario Knowledge Fair– http://www.ebarioknowledgefair.org

Developmental Conferencing

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TOTAL VISITORS COMING TO BARIO ACCORDING TO THE LODGES' VISITOR BOOKS FROM YEAR 1997 TO 2006

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200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

YEAR

TOTA

L VI

SITO

RS

Visitor

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• More visitors; more income

– Lodge owners– Cultural groups– Handicraft makers (more sales)– Food preparers (sellers)– Shop-owners– Tour guides– Transport providers– Farmers– (more commission for the

telecentre)• Local economic ecosystem gains

(airlines too)• Side benefit

– Closer community• Reduced rural-urban migration

Women’s participation

And running of the telecentre

Community empowerment

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Pico-hydro system installation

Computer training

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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

22Lodge/School/Offices/Homes

eBario as Internet Service Provider

• Internet access over the whole of Bario

• WiFi and sustainability

• Powered by solar panels• Rechargeable batteries at

relay points• Internet Access from

Telecentre • VoIP

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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)

eBario Living LaboratorySdn Bhd – ISITI

Development

Specialist areaSocial benefitLiving laboratory

Research

Academic impactSocial impactEvidence

Propagation

ReplicationPolicy advocacyVillage incubator

eBario

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Buayan

Larapan

Long Lamai

Bario

Ba’Kelalan

BBC – Community Radio

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• November 2001, first eBario Knowledge Fair; eBario Vision for ICTs and Indigenous Peoples

• 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

• 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

• 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.

• January 2011, eBario submits application for equipment certification to SIRIM.

• October 2011, eBario radio station installed.

2008

2009

2010

2011

Timeline2007

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

£1500 = RM7,300

£4000 = RM19,600

£9750 = RM 47,700*

Cost

Includes installation and trainingPlus premises and antenna tower

RADIOACTIVE PROJECTS:•AfroReggae Digital, Brazil •Baraza, Kenya •DMCR, Cameroon •Flambeau, Cameroon •Itinerante, Mexico •Kapilvastu, Nepal •Nudo Mixteco, Mexico •RadioActive, Nepal •RMA, Madagascar •194, Palestine

*Bario Radio

•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.

Sustainability

a) National and international newsb) Current affairsc) Developmental informationd) Educational programmese) Health informationf) Weather reportsg) Interviews with local and visiting dignitariesh) Entertainmenti) Cultural activitiesj) Voices of the people; local documentaries and oral historiesk) Popular music and music from local performersl) Group discussionsm) Farming informationn) Special interest item for; youth, women, farmers, elderly, businessmen, etc.o) Family announcements

Broadcast Content

Local Demand for Radio

•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.

No Broadcasting of:

Thank you

Consider attending the Third eBario Knowledge Fair, November 16-18

2011