Integration TV is a Canadian-based television show founded and hosted by Hodan Nalayeh.
Overview
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Integration TV is known to be the First English Television for the Somali diaspora and covers a wide variety of topics for its predominately Somali viewers, including events in the Somali-Canadian community, positive stories from the Somali diaspora and closely monitors the development and progress of The Federal Republic of Somalia.
Integration Television also aims at connecting, enlightening, and empowering the Somali diaspora around the globe.
Besides producing weekly episodes, the show includes various weekly segments including “Shaah & Sheeko” which translates to “Tea and Talk” in the Somali language. “Shaah & Sheeko” features Somali guests, discusses topics of interest in the Somali community, and raises awareness on universal social issues.
Integration Television currently airs every weekend on FEVA TV and features its weekly episodes on its YouTube Channel. [1]
Host
editHodan Nalayeh is a media executive, entrepreneur, and journalist [2]. Nalayeh was born in Las Anod, Somalia in 1976 and immigrated to Edmonton, Alberta in 1984. Nalayeh received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from University of Windsor [3]. Before founding Integration Television in 2014, Nalayeh has served as a producer and assistant on various shows including So You Think You Can Dance Canada and American Idol.
History
editIntegration TV premiered on March 2nd, 2014 on City TV [4]. Later in the year, the show discontinued airing on City TV and shifted its focus on producing episodes on its YouTube channel.
On May 28th, 2015, Nalayeh announced that the show would broadcast its weekly episodes on FEVA TV.
Guests
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The show featured various prominent guests including Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Somalia's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abdi Aynte, Somali-Canadian model Ayan Elmi, and renowned American Muslim speaker Nouman Ali Khan.
Integration TV also includes various segments and episodes that showcases the progress of the country. On May 24th, 2015, Integration TV announced that 18-year old Rashid Abdullahi from Holland was premiering a summer television series on Integration TV called “My Mogadishu Summer” [5]. The show was geared towards shedding a light on the positive development in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The fifteen episode series covered events including the Mogadishu International Book Fair and showcased the youth culture in Somalia.
Philanthropy and Community Activism
editIntegration TV creates not only a media platform for Somali Canadians, but works toward remaining active in the community. On June 9, 2014, the Toronto Girls Soccer Association announced that Integration TV was included in their line-up of sponsors [6]. Integration TV was also a sponsor at the 2015 Annual Halal Food Festival that took place in Mississauga, Ontario[7].
In addition, Integration TV uses its influential platform to raise awareness for various causes. Nalayeh is the founder of the Somali Refugees Awareness Project, a non-profit organization that advocates for Somali refugees across the world and seeks to help protect and resettle refugees that fled Somalia during the 1990 civil war [8].
Furthermore, Integration TV also works towards raising awareness and enlightening its viewers on mental health. On May 5th, 2015, Integration TV aired an episode that included an interview with Dr. Abdirahman Ali Habeeb, a mental health professional that works with mentally-ill individuals across Somalia. Along with Al Jazeera, Integration TV voiced support in an effort to secure land to build a mental health hospital in the country’s capital. Four months later, the President of Somalia announced that that land would be donated to Dr. Habeebs cause [9].
References
edit- ^ FEVA TV. "Integration TV". Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ Nalayeh, Hodan. "Ms. Hodan Nalayeh (Executive Producer, Integration TV, As an Individual) at the Status of Women Committee". Open Parliament. Open North. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
- ^ Reason, Cynthia. "TV host Hodan Nalayeh shines a light on Somali life in Toronto". Inside Toronto. 2015 METROLAND MEDIA GROUP LTD. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ Hiiraan Online. "New Television Show Uplifts the Image of Somali-Canadians in Mainstream Media!". Hiraan Online.
- ^ Nalayeh, Hodan. "INTEGRATION TV: Let's Talk About Somalia's Media! #My252Summer!". YouTube. Integration TV. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ Reason, Cynthia. "Young Somali soccer players find fun in fitness, learn soccer skills playing on girls-only team". Inside Toronto. METROLAND MEDIA GROUP LTD. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ Muslim Fest. "Hodan Nalayeh". Muslim Fest Mississauga. Muslim Fest. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ Keung, Nicholas. "Somali-Canadian youth seek solutions for their homeland". Toronto Star. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
- ^ Nalayeh, Hodan. "Mental Health Doctor in Somalia! #DrHabebIsAHero". YouTube. Integration TV. Retrieved 5 October 2015.