Radio Bario

Overview

In October 2011, RadioActive spent a month working with local social enterprise e-Bario and the community of Bario to set up Radio Bario, a community radio station serving the remote community of Bario, in the Kelabit highlands of Malaysian Borneo.

Radio Bario was the first community radio station to go on the air in Malaysia. It broadcasts in Kelabit, one of the main languages spoken in the area and focuses on issues relevant to the local population.

Main Objectives

The station is used as a communication tool for this remote area, providing a source of local news, local music and discussion and acting as a noticeboard for sending messages to far flung parts of the community, as well as promoting local health, environmental and other development issues.

Our Role

RadioActive supplied and installed the studio and transmission equipment for the station, and provided three weeks of training in radio production and studio and transmission engineering to the station staff.

Volunteers

Thanks to Victoria McArthur from BBC Scotland, Jack Chance from Mountain Music Project and Jim Ellinger from Austin Airwaves for contributing their time and energy and sharing their knowledge to help make this project a success.

Volunteering at Radio Bario

If you are interested in volunteering at Radio Bario, please contact Roger Harris. You will have an incredible time, without a doubt.

Partners

e-Bario

Roger Harris Associates

University of Malaysia (UNIMAS)

Radio Bario Staff

Thanks to Stanley, Connie, Lucy, Apoi, Stewart and Seluma, the wonderful volunteers who run Radio Bario. Thanks also to Jon, Roger and Lilla from e-Bario for getting RadioActive involved and looking after us so well in Bario. Looking forward to going back one day!