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Tylenol Murder Crisis Inspires Global Leadership Activism

Kasia Janus

Kasia Janus was a young schoolgirl when told her father had been killed by poisoned Tylenol capsules. Today she is remembering the supportive care she experienced by her school and community . She is mobilizing her memories from 40 years ago translating them into action caring about vulnerable girls in Uganda East Africa and is leading action to help.

This is her story:

Kasia Janus learned recently that school and health officials in Uganda are concerned when young girls fortunate to attend Catholic school, become dropouts when they begin menstruating.

Officials in Kasese located in the Rwenzori Mountain region of Western Uganda reached out for assistance to the US based MAAPFoundation. Kasia recently became interested in MAAPF work aimed especially at helping vulnerable mothers and children in Uganda. Kasia has taken on leadership to coordinate a global alliance to forge change.

MAAPFOUNDATION US CHARITY

MAAPF is a 501 registered charity since 2013 Uganda dedicated to mobilizing financial support to overwhelmed rural clinical healthcare workers struggling to provide essential medical care access to impoverished women and newborns.

AN ALLIANCE FORMS

Under the leadership of activist Kasia Janus, working in association with Arlington Heights Illinois based MAAPFoundation, they together have kick started a grassroots response to a serious increasing trending number of girls dropping out.

Today, Kasia Janus is enlisting others in implementing a pilot project to benefit two rural Kasese Village primary schools. The project began with a cry for help from Uganda Sister Marcelline Kibira, Director of Community Healthcare. Sister Marcelline reached out to Deacon Don Grossnickle founder and board chairman of MAAPFoundation seeking a microfinancing alliance.

Kasia, Sr. Marcelline and MAAPFOUNDATION board of directors envisioned that working together a pilot project opportunity can lead to empowering a long term personal, career and community development success story via forming an alliance.

INSPIRED LEADERSHIP FROM TRAGEDY

Kasia Janus has taken on the leadership of this project. Inspired by the need to care for young girls experiencing a time of vulnerability Kasia mobilized into action.

Recalling 40 years ago when her father was murdered by taking tainted Tylenol capsules, Kasia was helped through the crisis by Our Lady of the Wayside schoolmates teachers, neighbors and community.

The magnanimous support she claims made a profound difference in her becoming resilient. Kasia Janus enthusiastically accepts a leadership challenge now to focus an ongoing desire continuing to use her life, her faith and experiences to make a positive difference in the world.

EXPANDING THE ALLIANCE

Deacon Don sought financial support to help fund the project from the Our Lady of the Wayside elementary school student council leader Joseph Nigliazzo. The Wayside student leaders mobilize each month seeking to invest in a project benefitting from, “Dollars for Positive Change.” The OLW students raised an amazing $641 for what became the, “Kasese Girls Stay In School Project.”

With this financial investment in hand the plan is to purchase cloth to make reusable pad. Additional funds needed will purchase two sewing machines. Participating girls will cut and learn to sew reusable pads. Local teachers and leaders are pledged to assist in education and training. Soap and a room set aside for hygiene is planned.

Microfinancing in this scenario means creating a business where girls “pay it forward”, that is, making a surplus pad supply. This stockpile can kick start future participation. The overarching goals include the students learning managing and creating a business earning a profit. The aim is to make the program sustainable and can continue to serve girls in these pilot school. Ideally, the pilot can be transported to other schools.

BACKGROUND

UNESCO African leaders are aware lack of facilities or a lack of information or a lack of sanitary products impacts and can begin an entry into a cycle of poverty. Early pregnancy and dependence on others defer chances for a young woman’s career and can bring about pregnancy related health risks for mother and child.

The MAAPFoundation in the US works to forge alliances as they are invited to collaborate with Uganda Local community development leaders.

Leaders together have established that a viable solution lays in Menstrual Hygiene Management or MHM. It’s the access to adequate information, preparation, and support with which to manage menstruation in a healthy, safe, and dignified manner.

This is a global issue requiring local action responses. UNESCO asserts increased concern should care about MHM because it can further global social and economic empowerment and growth. It can also contribute to achieving a number of the UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including: quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), and clean water and sanitation (SDG 6).

For more information about MAAPFoundation, contact Deacon Don Grossnickle at 608-415-7489 or dgrossnick@aol.com.