The Bayat Foundation is proud to announce our newest environmental initiative in Afghanistan- Beautify Afghanistan.

According to Bayat Foundation Executive Director Mrs. Fatema Bayat, "Afghanistan is a nation blessed with tremendous natural resources and beauty," Mrs. Bayat said. "Unfortunately, through mismanagement, indifference, desperation, and ignorance, Afghanistan's bounty of nature has become scarred by overuse, pollution, and neglect. Many Afghans today struggle to find adequate sources of potable water and polluted water has become a major factor in the spread of diseases such as diphtheria, cholera and malaria. To help combat this, we are pleased to announce a new strategic initiative for 2013 and beyond – Beautify Afghanistan: Education. Empowerment. Environment. We are confident that this program will help Afghans to engage with their natural environment in more productive and sustainable ways than at present, helping to ensure a lasting legacy of natural beauty and resource for future generations."

The program's mission is to engage, empower, educate, and excite Afghans - especially those most at-risk citizens - to act on behalf of, and take greater responsibility for, their community environments in order to restore hope, pride, honor, beauty, and economic security to Afghanistan. It is designed as an "umbrella" initiative which will initiate, manage, provide catalyst funding, administer, and develop support for multiple environmental programs that will change behaviors and improve communities. It will be focused on programs that are developed for Afghans, by Afghans, and recognize the inherent interaction between people & nature. Projects will be about managing people and providing incentives to change behavior as much as managing environmental issues.

Championing principles such as education, individual responsibility, public-private partnerships, and sustainable economic support focused on Afghanistan's at-risk women and youth, Beautify Afghanistan's initial focus will be on the restoration of the Kabul River. The Foundation will turn Streams Into Stability by organizing cleanups of rubbish, promoting new – more sanitary - ways of handling wastewater and sewage, restoring a sense of national pride in the waterway as a symbol of Afghanistan's vibrancy and natural health, and creating economically sustainable initiatives for at-risk Afghans that revolve around the river.

We are thrilled to announce that Afghan Solar will be donating and installing $30,000 worth of solar power equipment for the Bayat Foundation. We will use this donation at select Bayat Foundation hospitals in Afghanistan to power the equipment used to save patients' lives. The equipment donated by Afghan Solar will ensure that our hospitals have a reliable and consistent source of power, will reduce our operating costs, and will help Afghanistan's environment by reducing our carbon footprint.

Afghan Solar was established in 2003, first and the largest Solar Company in Afghanistan with the aim of providing solar power solutions throughout the country. The Company is 100% Afghan owned and managed.

Afghan Solar has expertise in various types of Power Solutions from basic home lighting systems to complicated Telecom & Office Solar Power Solutions. The Company is equipped and capable to provide end to end complete power solutions anywhere in Afghanistan and believes in after sales services and availability of spares at all times. Furthermore, the Company has invested in significant inventory levels to ensure quick deliveries and replacement when needed.

Clients include from the most basic home/office users to Telecom Operators who use very complicated equipment. Afghan Solar has helped power up the lives of millions in Afghanistan and will continue to do so for decades to come.

Thanks to the donation of equipment from Afghan Solar, the Bayat Foundation will be able to provide even better treatment to the Afghan women and children who turn to us when they are ill or injured. The Bayat Foundation is proud to be working with Afghan Solar to make a brighter future for Afghanistan.

For more information regarding this project, please contact Jill Ketron at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 904-686-1470.

In Afghanistan, the month of Ramadan is a time to focus on charity, and to think of others less fortunate than yourself. This year, the Bayat Foundation will continue its tradition of taking this time to collect donations to distribute food packages to needy families throughout Afghanistan. If you are interested in joining us to help Afghan families in need during the month of Ramadan, please send us your donations now. We are procuring supplies and planning deliveries soon, and need your generous support to reach as many families as possible.

Each Ramadan food package we distribute includes:

• 1 bag of rice
• 1 bag of flour
• 1 gallon of oil
• Salt
• Sugar
• Tea

Donations can be made by credit card or PayPal online through our website. Check or money orders can be mailed to Bayat Foundation PO Box 2777, Ponte Vedra Beach FL 32004. If you have any questions about our Ramadan Food Packages or any of our other programs, please feel free to contact Jill Ketron at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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The Friends of South Asian American Communities and the Afghan California Business Council awarded Ehsan Bayat the 2010 Mahatma Gandhi Humanitarian Award for contributions to society on September 20, 2010 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Representatives of Congressman Brad Sherman, Congresswoman Judy Chu and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa were also in attendance. Bayat humbly accepted the prestigious Gandhi award and thanked everyone who was a part of it. He also received a County of Los Angeles Commendation and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition at the event.

In accepting the award, Bayat said, "I only hope to live up to the ideals this stands for as we continue our work for the people of Afghanistan."

The Mahatma Gandhi Humanitarian Award represents resistance to tyranny and a philosophy based on total non-violence leading to civil rights and freedom. It represents the highest values of a progressive society. Bayat's advancement of these values, through educational, civil works and health projects throughout Afghanistan, further the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. The award recognizes the positive effects of Bayat's lifelong efforts to help those in need.

In his acceptance speech, Bayat quoted Mahatma Gandhi, "We do not need to [teach] either by our speech or by our writing. We can only do so really with our lives. Let our lives be open books for all to study." During these times, as the world is focused on Afghanistan, it is refreshing to see the positive example being set by a man and organization focused on this approach. The Bayat Foundation's maternity hospitals, orphanages, schools, sports facilities and houses of worship are peacefully helping to rebuild a nation. This award was presented to inspire others, as well.

About the Bayat Foundation

Since 2005, the Bayat Foundation, led by Ehsan and Fatema Bayat, has contributed to over 200 projects to improve the quality of life for the youth, women, poor, and elderly of Afghanistan by constructing new facilities and infrastructure; and to promote health, education, economic and cultural programs. The independent Kabul-based NGO Bayat Foundation, www.bayatfoundation.org.af promotes the well-being of the Afghan people. In 2002, Ehsan Bayat also launched Afghan Wireless Communication Company, www.afghan-wireless.com, the first GSM wireless service and Internet Service Provider in Afghanistan; followed by the 2005 launch of Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), www.arianatelevision.com, which includes Ariana Radio (FM 93.5). For more information, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Families and friends gathered to show their support for "Walk for the Children of Afghanistan", a walk-a-thon to raise funds and awareness toward educational opportunities for Afghan youth. Supporters made their way through the scenic Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Northern Virginia as part of the event.

According to United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Afghanistan has one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world. Of a population of approximately 22.5 million, more than 11 million Afghans over the age of 15 cannot read or write. 

Funds raised from this event will go toward building schools and donating equipment and supplies to existing schools.