MEDIA RELEASE
Date: 24th May, 2007
Release: Immediate
http://www.refugeetv.com/
Hammersmith-based TV station gets Parliamentary launch
Plans for a Hammersmith-based nationwide TV station that would serve refugees of all nationalities were unveiled this week at the House of Commons.
The brainchild of Faqir Mayvand, director of the Afghan Council in Hammersmith Road, Refugee TV is planned as a non-political, non-religious station that would provide practical information on a full range of topics to refugees throughout the UK.
Representatives of a range of organisations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Refugee Council and the International Organisation for Migration praised Mr Mayvand's hard work in pursuing his project over the past seven years.
“From 2000 until now I have knocked on many thousands of doors to gain support.” He told the launch reception in a House of Commons committee room. “This project is unique to the UK, there is nothing else like this anywhere.”
The event was chaired by MP Neil Gerrard, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees. “This is a really important initiative as the needs of refugees are almost completely absent from mainstream television. This proposal will fill that gap,” he said.
Refugee TV, or RTV, as it will come to be known, already has studio facilities made available at Hammersmith and West London College. Mr Mayvand also has a ten-year broadcasting licence and a Sky satellite licence. He is now seeking financial backing for the project that would provide advice and guidance on topics such as education, training, employment, citizenship, health, housing and social welfare issues.
“Refugees also need to access and participate in their native cultures by means of music, drama, dance, storytelling, poetry and other forms of entertainment. None of these needs are currently being met by television,” said Mr Mayvand.
The project is being supported by Hammersmith and Fulham Refugee Forum whose co-ordinator Roudy Shafie said: “The plight of refugees is frequently covered on the television news but the potential of TV as a medium to help inform, advise and support refugees in this country have never been exploited. Let's hope this is about to change.”
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Notes to Editors: Organisations supporting RTV include: the Arts Council England, Refugee Council, UNHCR, London Arts & Learning Partnership, Iranian Cultural Centre, Horn Reflections Ltd., London Jewish Cultural Centre, Kurdish Cultural Centre, International Organisation for Migration.
Mr F.A. Mayvand is Director of the Afghan Council UK, based at High Master House, 153, Hammersmith Road, W14. Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, he worked in Afghan national radio and TV for many years. He is also a film director having produced two films to date: Us in the Year 2001, featuring Afghan young students in London; and Tomorrow's Stars in which Afghan children share their experiences about living in London.
http://www.refugeetv.com/ |
