For nearly two decades, the Bayat Foundation has been working to rebuild Afghanistan and to deliver hope and support to the country’s most vulnerable citizens. With a broad mission of improving the lives of Afghans, the foundation works across a number of different focus areas, engaging in projects that range from supporting post-secondary students to building maternity hospitals. Most recently, the Bayat Foundation has been involved in delivering food packages to families in need as part of its contribution to Afghanistan’s COVID-19 relief efforts.
In order to deliver these varied programs and services, the Bayat Foundation partners with a broad range of local and international organizations that offer focused expertise in different areas of humanitarian aid and development. Read on to learn about these important organizations.
Cordaid
A global humanitarian organization based in the Netherlands, Cordaid focuses on ending poverty and exclusion in countries such as Afghanistan. Supported by close to 300,000 private donors and connected to a worldwide partner network, Cordaid works to restore trust and cohesion in communities experiencing unrest, with the broader goal of improving essential services and stimulating inclusive economic growth. In 2019 alone, the organization reached 6.8 million people through health care interventions, facilitated access to education for 668,000 children, and offered $1.9 million in loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises to boost private sector development.
MATTER
The global nonprofit organization MATTER is driven by a vision of a world in which every person can lead a full and healthy life. A movement of people, businesses, and organizations, MATTER seeks to overcome one of the biggest modern challenges: a lack of access to health care and other resources necessary for healthy living. In pursuit of its goal of eliminating barriers to a healthier life, the organization engages in a number of activities in the US and around the world, such as redistributing medical supplies and equipment to underresourced hospitals and connecting children with healthy food options through its MATTERbox program.
Starkey Hearing Foundation
The Starkey Hearing Foundation has been one of the key partners of the Bayat Foundation since 2014, when the two organizations launched the Bayat-Starkey Afghanistan Hearing Care Mission. As the philanthropic arm of Starkey Hearing Technologies, the Starkey Hearing Foundation is committed to giving the gift of hearing to those in need. To do so, the foundation collaborates with governments, NGOs, and health care leaders worldwide to facilitate access to hearing care and technology for people with hearing impairments. Since its inception in 1984, the Starkey Hearing Foundation has reached more than 1.5 million people in over 100 countries.
Muslim Aid USA
A faith-based international charity, Muslim Aid USA works to support people and communities affected by natural disasters and unrest. In addition to providing emergency relief, Muslim Aid USA implements long-term development projects with the goal of helping vulnerable communities to build sustainable livelihoods. Driven by values such as compassion and justice, respect, and accountability, the organization is particularly focused on areas such as capacity building, economic empowerment, education, and women’s and children’s health.
Feed My Starving Children
A US-based nonprofit, Feed My Starving Children believes that hope begins with food. Nearly half of the deaths of children under 5 years old are the result of hunger and malnutrition. In order to combat this statistic, Feed My Starving Children teams up with food science and nutrition professionals to develop hand-packed meals. Moreover, it works with community-based distribution partners worldwide to ensure that they continue to reach the children who need them the most.
American University of Afghanistan
The American University of Afghanistan holds the distinction of being the only nationally accredited, private, not-for-profit post-secondary institution in Afghanistan. Committed to preparing future leaders, AUAF offers a non-partisan education to a co-ed student body. As a liberal arts institution, AUAF supports critical thinking and academic freedom among students and faculty alike, and it is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning atmosphere. AUAF first opened its doors in 2006 with a cohort of 50 students. Today, the university enrolls over 1,700 students (both full- and part-time), and it has produced 29 Fulbright Scholars. In addition, AUAF maintains partnerships with some of the most respected institutions of higher education in the nation, including Stanford University, Georgetown University, and the University of California system.
Food for Kidz
Providing food to insecure communities in the US and regions around the world affected by natural disasters, war, and famine, Food for Kidz believes that change starts with the simplicity of a meal. In order to connect children and families in need with healthy and nutritious meals, Food for Kidz has developed a unique mobile packaging system. The organization provides all the necessary tools and support so that groups of volunteers—ranging from companies and schools to churches—can put together a package of life-sustaining food. Following a packaging event, Food for Kids connects with partner organizations to assess where the need is greatest, and then it ships and delivers the packaged food to those communities.