eBario — Community-driven ICT for sustainable development
eBario: Community-Driven ICT for the Kelabit Highlands
A pioneering rural informatics initiative by ISITI, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), empowering the Bario community through ICT access, cultural preservation, and sustainable innovation.
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About eBario
eBario is one of Asia’s most recognised community-based ICT4D (ICT for Development) projects, launched by UNIMAS to bridge digital gaps in the remote Kelabit Highlands...
Core Components of eBario
Community Telecentre
Locally managed digital hub providing internet access, ICT training, and community services.
Education & School Labs
Computer labs, digital learning tools, and curriculum support for Bario’s schools.
Radio Bario
Community-run radio broadcasting local news, cultural knowledge and Kelabit language content.
Milestones
- 1998–2000: Concept initiated, initial studies.
- 2000–2004: Telecentre, VSAT, solar power, school labs.
- 2007: Establishment of Radio Bario.
- 2011–Present: eBorneo Knowledge Fair (eBKF).
Impact & Lessons
eBario is an internationally referenced ICT4D model, demonstrating the importance of community ownership, sustainable design and participatory training.
“Technology succeeds when the community leads. eBario shows how innovation grows from local wisdom.”
Today, eBario continues to support research, cultural mapping, and development programmes...
Work With Us
ISITI welcomes collaborators, researchers, and partners interested in rural informatics, Indigenous knowledge systems, and sustainable ICT deployments.
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