To benefit the people of Afghanistan, the Bayat Foundation has spearheaded a wide range of activities involving education, clean water, and healthcare, especially women and children’s health. The following projects represent some of the organization’s recent key initiatives:
1. Continued Partnership with the Starkey Foundation
Through its strategic partnership with the Starkey Hearing Foundation, the Bayat Foundation recently launched a successful joint initiative to improve the hearing of people living with auditory impairments. Altogether, the two organizations have provided access to resources and provided hearing devices to more than 1,500 people in the cities of Kabul, Mazar-I-Sharif, and Herat.
The project began at the Technical Institute in Herat, where audiologists and medical personnel worked diligently to provide hearing devices to more than 400 people. Because of this endeavor, many people were able to hear for the first time. The team then spent a week traveling to a new city daily, seeing hundreds of people in each city with the support of volunteers from Afghan Wireless, Ariana Television, and other organizations. Overall, the second annual joint mission proved grueling, yet worth the effort because it dramatically improved the lives of so many Afghan people.
2. Support of the Intermediate Medical Dental Institute of Kabul
The Bayat Foundation recently supplied the Intermediate Medical Dental Institute of Kabul with equipment for use in both teaching and treatment settings. This donation included a dental tool sterilizer, an examination light, and a dental chair, as well as several pieces of furniture. In addition, the foundation provided microscopes, a model skeleton, and multiple oxygen machines. Recognizing the importance of dental healthcare in the overall health of the nation, the foundation hopes to improve the level of care currently offered while helping to train future generations of talented dental professionals.
3. A New Operating Ward for the Malali Maternity Hospital
Dedicated to improving outcomes for pregnant women in Afghanistan, the foundation donated critical medical equipment to Malali Maternity Hospital in Kabul and funded the construction of a new operating ward. The hospital is the largest of its kind in the country, and this donation will help reduce maternal mortality rates. Donated equipment included baby beds and warmers, operating room tools, delivery tables, and an ECG machine, as well as wheelchairs and exam instruments.
4. Donations to the Rahman Meena School
The Rahman Meena School partnered with the Bayat Foundation to bring a higher level of education to its students through major renovations of classrooms and the construction of a new computer lab. The foundation also donated seven desktop computers with Internet access, as well as chairs and tables for use by students and educators. By providing the opportunity for students to learn computer skills, the Bayat Foundation is preparing them be more competitive in today’s global job market.
5. Renovations for the Azadi School
Understanding the importance of safe and quiet spaces for studying, the Bayat Foundation facilitated the construction of a new study room for students at the Azadi School in Kabul. The foundation also donated classroom equipment that the school lacked.
6. Food for the Hungry in Jalalabad
Every year, in celebration of the month of Ramadan, the Bayat Foundation launches a food drive to support Afghan families that struggle with hunger. This year, the foundation distributed food to people in need in Jalalabad. The food packages distributed consisted of rice, sugar, cooking oil, spaghetti, and flour. In past years, support has been provided to families in the Kabul, Parwan, Wardak, Farah, Badakhshan, and Nangarhar provinces. The foundation has also made donations to families throughout Afghanistan during the most difficult winter months.
People can stay informed about the important work being carried out by the Bayat Foundation online at BayatFoundation.org. This website provides an overview of the organization’s projects in each of its four key focus areas and also offers information about getting involved with the foundation. Individuals can donate funds, volunteer time, sponsor projects, or speak at philanthropic events.