Elizabeth Jumah

At just 23 years old, Elizabeth Jumah’s life changed overnight when she lost her job at Unilever. What followed was a difficult journey through entrepreneurship, starting more than ten businesses, facing repeated failure, and rebuilding her life from the ground up.

But Liz refused to give up.

Returning to her home in Western Kenya, she rebuilt her parents’ small shop into Stery Supermarket and Bakery, now supporting nearly 50 livelihoods. Yet for Liz, success was never just about profit, it was about people.

Inspired by the values of service she learned at Strathmore University and from her mother, Liz expanded the Wema initiative, transforming it into a powerful community movement focused on:

⚽ Wema Girls Cup – Mentoring over 300 girls through sports across 16 villages
🛠 Wema Technical Training Institute – Equipping youth and women with practical skills for self-reliance
💧 Wema Water Project – Bringing clean water to more than 70 households in the community
👩🏾‍💼Wema Women Conference – Creating spaces for mentorship, leadership, and empowerment

Through these programs, Liz and her team are helping girls stay in school, empowering women with livelihoods, and restoring dignity across communities in Bungoma.

Her story is proof that failure can become fuel for something greater.

This film is part of Faces of Service, a series celebrating our alumni and highlighting how they are transforming society through leadership, innovation, and service.

If you’re facing setbacks or searching for purpose, this story is for you.