President and CEO, Ehsan Bayat of Telephone Systems International and founder of Afghan Wireless, has recently been appointed Senator of the Afghanistan Upper House. Bayat holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and is known for bringing mobile phone technology to the country of Afghanistan in the early 2000′s.
New Jersey Institute of Technology (image from prweb.com)
In addition to bringing innovation to his home country, Bayat founded the Bayat Foundation in 2005 in order to rebuild and restore Afghanistan through community development and outreach. With the help of his foundation, Afghanistan has seen improved living conditions, clean water sources, educational programs, career education and sustainability programs. In order to serve the country, the Bayat Foundation collaborates with a number of non-governmental organizations and outreach groups. Several organizations include Roots of Peace, the New Hudson Foundation, and the Sunshine Lady Foundations. Each of these organizations share the common idea that Afghanistan can prosper through the development of its people.
The Bayat Foundation provides the country with programming in the healthcare sector including maternal and infant care, health awareness and clean water as well as educational outreach programs for youth, adults seeking employment and women. Though women still struggle for equality in many parts of the world, the Bayat Foundation hopes to empower women by providing grants and education to encourage independence and success.
Through the ongoing dedication of Ehsan Bayat, who continues to serve on the board of the Foundation, many families have welcomed new opportunities and feelings of prosperity. Due to his passion for his country, Bayat was recognized as the Mahatma Gandhi Humanitarian in 2010. According to the Bayat Foundation, the 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.”
Prior to receiving that award, Bayat was no stranger to accolades. The Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce named him Businessman of the Year after proving his dedication to helping his country through the advancement of mobile technology. He was also presented with the Human Rights National Award by the Afghanistan Human Rights Association after his persistent efforts to make Afghanistan a better place for its citizens.
It is through the work of individuals like Ehsan Bayat that our world continues to develop and that individuals will find opportunity where they never thought possible.
