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.

On June 30, 2009, Bayat Foundation Chairman Ehsan Bayat and Executive Director, Fatema Bayat, welcomed 125 leaders including corporate executives, humanitarians and government officials from the United States, Canada and Afghanistan for the first annual Afghan Symposium for Humanitarian and Leadership Engagement in Washington, DC. The symposium was held in view of the US Capitol building and convened to highlight best practices, engage leaders and foster ways to increase quality of life and opportunities for education and livelihoods in Afghanistan. HE Afghan Ambassador Said T. Jawad served as
Honorary Chairman. Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce Chairman Ajmal Ghani served as Co-Chair and Hon. George Foresman, DHS Under Secretary (2005-2007), moderated.

The symposium also was the springboard for the announcement of the Afghan Trusted Network for the exchange of ideas and information between individuals and organizations to generate meaningful opportunities for Afghans including the youth, Afghanistan's next generation of leaders. The Afghan Trusted Network, a project of The Bayat Foundation, is permanently Chaired by Ehsan Bayat, and Heidi Kuhn, Roots of Peace Founder/CEO and John Gastright, DynCorp International Government Affairs Vice President will serve as the
Network's 2009-2010 Co-Chairs.

Ehsan Bayat, who is also Chairman of Ariana Television and Radio Network and the Afghan Wireless Communication Company said, "The youth are the future of Afghanistan, they are eager for education, jobs and training, hence the network's goal is to collectively do what we can - to engage and realize more training and mentoring opportunities if not eventual jobs for the young men and women."

H.E. Afghan Ambassador Said T. Jawad underscored the significance of this Afghan Symposium to develop the Afghan Trusted Network by stating,"Being in the forefront of philanthropic work in Afghanistan, the Bayat Foundation has helped convene this timely forum of NGOs and the civil society to share our experience and leverage our expertise and networks to enhance efficiency and cooperation between the public and private sectors in order to serve the people of Afghanistan, who are hopeful and in need of our support."

Other leaders who participated included USAID Director of the AfghanistanPakistan Task Force Jim Bever, HE Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, former Ambassador of the United Nations, Iraq and Afghanistan, Hon. Paula Dobriansky, Sr Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center and Under Secretary of State (2001-2009), Ayenda Foundation Founder Mrs. Shamim Jawad, Actress Diane Baker, Dupree Foundation Board Director and U.S. Institute of Peace Senior Rule of Law Advisor Alex Thier, Afghan Sports Federation
Executive Director Atiq Panjshiri, Extreme Security General Manager Francis Schroeder, Gordon Feinblatt's R. Michael Smith, Esq., Canada-Afghanistan Business Council President Aziz Amiri, Thunderbird VP Communications Frank Neville, Afghan Business Network Founder Qasim Tarin and Arzu CEO Connie
Duckworth. Additionally, a group of women representing Afghan Ministries who were in Washington, DC for a program hosted by the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council also participated.

The 2009 Bayat Foundation Awards for Humanitarian and Leadership Engagement were presented at the Close of the symposium to Dr. Peter and ebecca Grossman of the Grossman Burn Foundation (with Charlie Ponticelli accepting on their behalf) and Caroline Firestone of the New Hudson Foundation