1. August 2014 FICCS (Foundation for International Cardiac & Children’s Services) Nairobi, Kenya
FICCS NEWSLETTER
Changing Lives in Kenya
ESCAPING EARLY MARRIAGE
Celestine Mainka (pictured below with FICCS
team at her home), a member of the Shompole
Group Ranch Maasai in Magadi, Kenya, is a 16-
year old girl ready to be married off for a bridal
fee. Celestine has been on a FICCS scholarship
for four years and the thought of this happening to
her was unbearable.
A short visit to her home in Magadi in May
resulted in the father agreeing to send his
daughter to Nairobi to be trained by FICCS in
hopes that she can return and help the family. She
is the first of many girls that FICCS will help to
break the generational curse of early marriages.
Celestine recently revealed that her sister, 20, was
married off at her age and now has two kids and is
a third wife. Celestine desperately did not want
this to happen to her and the glow on her face and
the desire in her eyes shows that she is not only
working with FICCS for her personal benefit, she
is now the hope for all the Maasai girls and their
mothers who desperately do not want their girls to
live a life of servitude like they had to endure.
Our$vision$is$to$help$foster$the$
development$of$healthcare$and$
educational$services$in$Kenya,$focusing$
on$the$needs$of$women$and$children.$
“I do not want to get
married, I am only 16
years old. I want to
learn more and be a
good example for the
other girls in my
community (Shompole).
Celestine Mainka, Magadi
HARDSHIPS FOR MAASAI GIRLS
• Fetching water and firewood
• Cooking for the family
• Early marriage
• Taking care of siblings/newborns
• Not allowed to inherit family items
• Entertaining Morans (young men
waiting to be adults/spreads HIV)
• Herding and milking animals
• Limited school attendance
“EVERY 15 SECONDS A WOMAN IS BATTERED”

2. August 2014 www.ficcs.net Nairobi, Kenya
MY SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE
“Thank'you'FICCS'and'Dr.'Patel'for'coming'to'
Kenya'and'saving'my'life.'After'having'a'
heart'attack'I'knew'I'could'not'afford'
treatment'and'I'would'not'be'able'to'go'back'
to'work'and'take'care'of'my'family.'Today,'
thanks'to'Dr.'Patel,'I'am'back'to'work'and'
doing'my'chores.”'
Mary Ndengo used to get sick all the time. A diabetic, she
has been admitted to the hospital numerous times,
however, in 2008; she began to have breathing problems
and knew that something was terribly wrong. Mary has
been keen about her health and thought she would always
have the answers.
After a visit to the hospital, tests showed that her heart
muscles were very weak and she needed to be referred to
another hospital that could cater to her needs. She was
then referred to The Karen Hospital and several advanced
tests concluded that in order to regain her health, she
would need to have a CRTD, a pacemaker.
As a nurse she makes very little money and the hospital in
Nyeri is not capable of doing the procedure. So Mary was
left with a major decision, she could try to raise the
money, nearly one million Ksh or simply do like most
Kenyans and wait to die. But today was the day God was
looking out for Mary.
In April 2010, Mary finally got the one gift she so
desperately was waiting for, a pacemaker. A pacemaker
alone can cost more than the actual surgery itself. Mary
was operated on by Dr. Patel, Chairman and Founder of
FICCS, and Dr. Dan Gikonyo, The Karen Hospital, and
thus ended her struggles to breath and a new lease on life.
Up until that point, Mary could not work, she could not do
her daily chores and not to mention the breathing
problems she was having. Just walking outside for fresh
air was a problem. Mary is back to work as a nurse
54 East Africans have Received FREE Surgeries
150 Women and Children Received Dental Care
“How am I going
to pay for heart
surgery?”
Mary Ndengo, Nyeri
CHANGING LIVES IN KENYA
ONE GIRL AT A TIME
WWW.FICCS.NET

3. August 2014 www.ficcs.net Nairobi, Kenya
FICCS WOMEN’S CENTER
Building Strong Women
Building Strong Families
Building Strong Communities
The Women’s Center facilities and programs:
• Health Training– Weekly classes
• Fitness Center – Full functioning gym
• Library – Weekly classes/career development
• Kitchen – Girls learn healthy cooking habits
• Computers – All girls must have basic skills
• Sewing – To provide income generating opportunities
• After School – Tutoring and nutrition for students
• Counseling – Teaching girls how to mentor other girls
The Women’s Center is designed to provide a safe and
secure place for women and girls in the slums of Nairobi to
learn, grow and just be themselves. Our goal is to eliminate
obstacles that traditionally face women in Africa and give
them an opportunity to develop through classroom and
skills based training.
The Women’s Center opened in May 2014 and provides
health, life and vocational skills training to enable young
women and girls to acquire the skills necessary to be
successful in life. Other programs include scholarships,
environmental improvement and outreach.
Fitness Classes Improve Self-Esteem
Health and Nutrition Classes Boost Confidence
HYGIENE DURING MENSTRUATION
• Choose your method of sanitation
• Change regularly
• Wash yourself regularly
• Don’t use soaps or vaginal hygiene products
• Use the right washing technique
• Discard your used sanitary product properly
• Deal with a pad rash with care
• Use only one method of sanitation during your
periods
• Be ready with on-the-go stuff during your period
Center Royal Business Centre (Faulu Building/Top floor)
Location: Outer Ring Road, Kariobangi

4. August 2014 www.ficcs.net Nairobi, Kenya
FATE DETERMINED
OVER A CUP OF TEA
“THIS COULD NOT HAPPEN TO ME”
One day while in school, Wangeci’s parents tried to sell
her to an old man who was very rich. Unfortunately, she
knew nothing about the plan, which had already been
decided. Wangeci’s parents told her to pack her bags
because she was going on a trip.
After a long journey she was taken to a room and locked
inside so she could not escape. She did not know that
her parents were at a separate house dining with the old
man as they were preparing to execute the plan. The
girl’s fate was determined over a cup of tea.
By Marcy Chege, Wangeci’s best friend
5 STEPS TO A PAIN FREE BACK
STAY FIT - Stretching and strengthening your back
and abdominal muscles reduces risks of back problems
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT – Obesity is
the primary cause of back pain
STOP SMOKING – Research indicates that smoking
reduces blood flow to the vertebrae and smokers lose
bone faster leading to back problems
LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD – Do not carry heavy items
and always bend your knees
DEVELOP BACK HEALTHY HABITS – Take
pressure off your back everyday
75% of girls with low
self-esteem engage in
negative activities
such as drinking and
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT US
Stacy Harris/Editor stacy@ficcs.net
Call us at 0713-480-736 or 0703-700-766
Visit our website at www.ficcs.net
Visit our office in Westlands or visit our Women’s
Center in Kariobangi (Outer Ring Road)
WWW.FICCS.NET
smoking
Foundation for International
Cardiac & Children’s Services
1010 Sheridan Road
Wilmette, IL 60091
info@ficcs.net