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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
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
YEAR
TO
TA
L V
ISIT
OR
S
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