http://202.187.94.201/e-bario-the-kelabit-gift-to-malaysia-
e-Bario: The Kelabit Gift to Malaysia by Laura Lee
UNDP
Just picture this: rolling hills, fresh crisp air, the tranquil and serene environment greets and welcomes you the Kelabit Highlands of Bario. This indigenous community in Bario, Sarawak consists of warm and very friendly people. They lead simple lives of planting the famous fragrant Bario rice, hunt from the jungle for daily food or just trading in small business enterprise. Despite being so remote and cut off from nearby developed towns, the place produced some fine leaders in the country. Datuk Seri Idris Jala, the CEO of MAS hails from this Kelabit community of just over 5,000 people. Amongst others are many successful businessmen and women, academicians and high ranking government officials. Many who made it also returned to Bario to set up small business enterprises in hope of elevating their families out of poverty.
One such person is a local empowered women named Maszuin. Originating from Bario, she operates the local Mini Market called Y2K. The small business enterprise is likened to the "Megamall" to residents in Bario. Supplies from the more modern towns of Sarawak could usually be found at this quaint little shop although at somewhat higher prices due to the high costs of flying the merchandise into Bario.
Moving on to other members of the Bario community, there is a couple by the names of Lucy and David Labang. They operate a travel lodge longhouse in Bario. With internet connectivity via the e-Bario telecentre, the couple is able to communicate with tourists from all corners of the world wanting to make reservations to stay at their travel lodge. Guests staying at the Labang longhouse will be well taken care of with a good spread of local delicacies and warm Kelabit hospitality.
Adjourning from dinner, David will proceed to gather guests around a bonfire in their kitchen where some night entertainment entails. Skillfully playing a traditional instrument called 'sape' (boat lute), David will sometime play a duet with a younger member of the community. The lady members of his family might don their traditional headgear and take to the dance floor with the graceful movements of the hombill dance.
Bario, being so remote and cut off from the rest of the more developed areas in the surrounding region, do not even have proper roads. The more affluent members of the community will own 4WD vehicles to travel on the dirt tracks. The rest might just travel by motorcycles whilst some just walk to reach their target destinations. Electrification is supplied via solar power or generators. Despite being so remote and rural, ICT was able to bridge the digital divide when it arrived in Bario a few years ago. Connected via VSAT technology, e-Bario came into existence - the only telecentre in Bario and its surrounding region that provides connectivity to the world beyond the highlands of the Kelabits.
The benefits of ICT were tremendous especially in impacting and improving the livelihoods and economic conditions of the Bario people. From only 2 travel lodges, Bario now has 6 travel lodges. The fragrant high quality Bario rice is being marketed over the internet whilst family members were able to communicate with their loved ones outside of Bario - news that used to take weeks or months to arrive is now only a click of the mouse away.
Showing posts with label UNDP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UNDP. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Bario – The Perfect Venue for Development Conferencing
http://202.187.94.201/06-12-2007-bario--the-perfect-venue-for-development-conferencing
(06-12-2007)
Bario – The Perfect Venue for Development Conferencing
UNDP
The recent e-Bario knowledge fair held concurrently with the UNDP Workshop on e-Inclusion and media for indigenous peoples from 6-8 December 2007 managed to gather participants from four continents around the globe to openly discuss and share knowledge on ICT and indigenous peoples and utilizing media to generate more awareness for the abovementioned topics in the name of development.
The event brought together over 150 people to share knowledge and brainstorm ideas on issues relating to ICT and indigenous peoples whilst using media as a powerful tool to generate greater awareness. Amongst delegates were participants from Indigenous Communities who were either experts or practitioners in the thematic areas of ICT or indigenous peoples. There were also members of the media representing several indigenous groups attending the conference.
The three day event saw active interactions between the local Kelabits and the guests to Bario, where exchanging knowledge and information were the order for the day. There was a blend of academic and local Kelabit presentations in the Plenary e-Tracks, whereby a balance was achieved in the inclusion of foreign and local presentation flavours.
Wang Jianhua aka Ayoe, a Chinese from the tribal Akha people group found the event educational and informative. He also reckoned it was a creative way to gather information and knowledge. Pio Jun Verzola from Philippines quoted that the on site workshop in a place like Bario is a great idea especially in driving home some key points of discussions that would otherwise remain abstract and theoretical only. Daniella Schiller, an intern researcher from Germany found the location to be the highlight of her stay. She quipped, “… it wasn’t a workshop just about Bario but also a little bit for Bario in that people could present as well (most important!) and also get some financial benefits out of it through the sale of handicrafts and the home-stay programme.”
Florance Lapu Apu, the local tour guide was impressed that Bario was chosen to host this international event and hopes that there will be more future events. He would like to see more local Kelabits participate and learn from the foreign experts at events such at this.
The local vicar, Reverend Solomon found the event filled with enriched interactions, especially in the exchange of ideas and innovation where all were able to learn from one another. Through the exchanges, many ideas surfaced and some profound ones were exposed.
Dick Bala shared the same sentiments and recorded that it was great for the Kelabits to be able to interact with the different ethnic groups found at the event.
Mary Peter, a local Kelabit lady expressed that it was interesting to see many people from different countries and cultures coming together in Bario for the event. She found the delegates were very accommodating and hardly complained especially when it came to food – no one was choosy and accepted whatever food served to them. Mary further explained that the menu in Bario is not predictable as they do not have much choice with regards to food supplies. They will cook as the supplies flew in on the small airplanes.
Jesse Fiddler from the Nishnawbe tribe of Northern Canada (Sandy Lake First Nation) highlighted that he learned about the challenges the indigenous peoples are facing in Asia when trying to implement ICTs in improving lives for their people, despite the many obstacles faced. On the other hand, Sanjay Nadkarni, and Indian residing in Macau said that the event achieved in generating awareness about the plight of the indigenous peoples and the role of ICT in mitigating the socio-economic situation whilst simultaneously allowing them to retain their distinct culture and identity.
Ina Hume, a development worker with children utilizing new media concluded that it was a fascinating conference and workshop in a beautiful place. She found the sessions to be informative and interesting and graciously thanked the hosts, the wonderful Kelabit people before ending with words of thanks and gratitude to UNDP for a job well done in organizing the excellent workshop.
Jim Remedio from CAAMA Radio, Australia shared the same views with Ina and he was delighted with the very well organized workshop by UNDP staff in such a place like Bario. He also found the workshop presentations very informative and realized that some participants were very passionate about their work. Jim also acknowledged the great group dynamics exhibited at the workshop.
For further details on how you could organize a conference on development at a truly down to earth place where dialogue with the local beneficiaries like the Kelabit people are made possible, please visit the following link at http://www.ebario.com/
(06-12-2007)
Bario – The Perfect Venue for Development Conferencing
UNDP
The recent e-Bario knowledge fair held concurrently with the UNDP Workshop on e-Inclusion and media for indigenous peoples from 6-8 December 2007 managed to gather participants from four continents around the globe to openly discuss and share knowledge on ICT and indigenous peoples and utilizing media to generate more awareness for the abovementioned topics in the name of development.
The event brought together over 150 people to share knowledge and brainstorm ideas on issues relating to ICT and indigenous peoples whilst using media as a powerful tool to generate greater awareness. Amongst delegates were participants from Indigenous Communities who were either experts or practitioners in the thematic areas of ICT or indigenous peoples. There were also members of the media representing several indigenous groups attending the conference.
The three day event saw active interactions between the local Kelabits and the guests to Bario, where exchanging knowledge and information were the order for the day. There was a blend of academic and local Kelabit presentations in the Plenary e-Tracks, whereby a balance was achieved in the inclusion of foreign and local presentation flavours.
Wang Jianhua aka Ayoe, a Chinese from the tribal Akha people group found the event educational and informative. He also reckoned it was a creative way to gather information and knowledge. Pio Jun Verzola from Philippines quoted that the on site workshop in a place like Bario is a great idea especially in driving home some key points of discussions that would otherwise remain abstract and theoretical only. Daniella Schiller, an intern researcher from Germany found the location to be the highlight of her stay. She quipped, “… it wasn’t a workshop just about Bario but also a little bit for Bario in that people could present as well (most important!) and also get some financial benefits out of it through the sale of handicrafts and the home-stay programme.”
Florance Lapu Apu, the local tour guide was impressed that Bario was chosen to host this international event and hopes that there will be more future events. He would like to see more local Kelabits participate and learn from the foreign experts at events such at this.
The local vicar, Reverend Solomon found the event filled with enriched interactions, especially in the exchange of ideas and innovation where all were able to learn from one another. Through the exchanges, many ideas surfaced and some profound ones were exposed.
Dick Bala shared the same sentiments and recorded that it was great for the Kelabits to be able to interact with the different ethnic groups found at the event.
Mary Peter, a local Kelabit lady expressed that it was interesting to see many people from different countries and cultures coming together in Bario for the event. She found the delegates were very accommodating and hardly complained especially when it came to food – no one was choosy and accepted whatever food served to them. Mary further explained that the menu in Bario is not predictable as they do not have much choice with regards to food supplies. They will cook as the supplies flew in on the small airplanes.
Jesse Fiddler from the Nishnawbe tribe of Northern Canada (Sandy Lake First Nation) highlighted that he learned about the challenges the indigenous peoples are facing in Asia when trying to implement ICTs in improving lives for their people, despite the many obstacles faced. On the other hand, Sanjay Nadkarni, and Indian residing in Macau said that the event achieved in generating awareness about the plight of the indigenous peoples and the role of ICT in mitigating the socio-economic situation whilst simultaneously allowing them to retain their distinct culture and identity.
Ina Hume, a development worker with children utilizing new media concluded that it was a fascinating conference and workshop in a beautiful place. She found the sessions to be informative and interesting and graciously thanked the hosts, the wonderful Kelabit people before ending with words of thanks and gratitude to UNDP for a job well done in organizing the excellent workshop.
Jim Remedio from CAAMA Radio, Australia shared the same views with Ina and he was delighted with the very well organized workshop by UNDP staff in such a place like Bario. He also found the workshop presentations very informative and realized that some participants were very passionate about their work. Jim also acknowledged the great group dynamics exhibited at the workshop.
For further details on how you could organize a conference on development at a truly down to earth place where dialogue with the local beneficiaries like the Kelabit people are made possible, please visit the following link at http://www.ebario.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)