Vickie Winkler, RN, President & Founder 

Vickie Winkler (affectionately known as Mama Vickie) is the Founder and President of Health Education Africa Resource Team (HEART), a United States and Kenyan-based Christian humanitarian organization working Kenya, East Africa. Vickie is a retired Registered Nurse (RN) from Auburn, CA who has served in Kenya since 1979. She originally moved to Kenya with her husband Pastor Kenn Winkler and her daughter Shannon to manage a Bible College in Nairobi. They ran the college until 1983 when they moved back to California and Kenn became an associate pastor for Inland Christian Center Church in Colton, CA. In 1988, the Winklers moved to Auburn, CA where Kenn became the lead pastor for Grace Christian Fellowship and Vickie worked at Placer County Public Health as a nurse.

Vickie continued to return to Kenya to lead teams of educators and medical personnel who conducted public health workshops and continued to build relationships throughout the country.  When the HIV pandemic began to spread like wildfire throughout Kenya, Vickie was asked to educate on the deadly virus. She quickly realized that the disease was manageable with the proper nutrition and antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). While many organizations focused on the already orphaned and vulnerable children, Vickie began to focus on providing ARV's, nutrition, and education to the mothers. The foundation that she built HEART was to keep mom alive so she can take care of her own kids with the goal of orphan prevention. 

Vickie and Kenn founded HEART in February 2000. Kenn passed away from cancer in 2004 and Vickie moved full-time to Kenya. She formalized her orphan prevention program into the Women Equality Empowerment Project (WEEP). This 18 to 24-month program provides Kenyan women living with HIV/AIDS with health care, nutrition, shelter, education, protection, and psychosocial support. HEART's objective is to keep mothers alive, healthy, and employed, and protect their vulnerable children from becoming orphans. These women come from a near death and stigmatized situation to becoming owners of small thriving businesses, community leaders, homeowners, and some have gone on to form new WEEP Centers. HEART has seven WEEP Centers in various parts of Kenya and two of them are now managed by WEEP graduates. Instead of growing the main HEART organization, Vickie establishes each project and center as it's own Community Based Organization (CBO). This approach reduces overhead cost to allow more money to go to the projects and provides local support, leadership, and employment opportunities. One center graduated to a Non-governmental Organization (NGO) status, which enables them to raise funds directly. HEART continues to mentor to each group.

In 2003, with the help of two board members, HEART purchased the lodge in Muthaiga, Nairobi. The lodge houses the main HEART office, provides employment opportunities for HEART's Kenyan staff, and generates income that is donated to fund their projects. The HEART Lodge has been expanded to accommodate up to 40 guests and features a conference room, a dining room, and a gift shop that sells products made by WEEP graduates and their children (www.africaheartlodge.com). 

Vickie's biggest sacrifice to serve in Kenya has been having less time to spend with her daughter, two grandchildren, and four great grandchilren. Her sister Carla Heinecke (affectionately known as Auntie Carla) serves as a lodge host in Kenya for much of the year. HEART partners with corporate, faith-based, institutional, governmental, and private supporters from all over the world. Vickie is strong in her Christian faith and welcomes support and fosters friendships with people from many religious and personal beliefs, political views, and social and economic statuses. Awards and accolades include:   

• On May 10, 2017, she received an honorary Doctorate Degree as a “Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities by United Graduate College and Seminary for her work that has focused on Women Empowerment, Gender Equality and Education of children in Kenya.

• In 2010, The HEART WEEP Center in Kibera Slums was visited by US Vice President’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden who wanted to see a successful women empowerment project funded by USAID (www.usaid.gov).

• In 2007, HEART received a grant from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) started by President George W. Bush and was honored by him with a “Portraits of Compassion” award in 2012.

• "UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Award" in recognition of HEART's contribution towards achieving MDG #3- Gender Equality and Women Empowerment through their projects; Freedom for Girls (FFG) and WEEP.

• "Invest in Others Award" receiving $5,000 grant and had the HEART Logo displayed on Wall Street’s famous NASDAQ building in Manhattan, New York.

• An active Rotarian since 2005, she served as the District Chair of HIV/AIDS for District 9212 for 3 years and currently serves as the Co-director of the Foundation Committee.

• Member of the Paul Harris Society and a Rotary Major Donor.

Visit – www.africaheart.com and www.africaheartlodge.com for more information.