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Elizabeth Jere spent two decades leading global health programs across Africa — balancing leadership with single motherhood and a deep commitment to women’s empowerment. But after federal cuts abruptly ended her USAID contractor role, Elizabeth found herself adrift, grieving in Spain and searching for a new path.

In this episode, she shares her journey through loss, healing, and reinvention — from being “mothered” by a colleague in Cambodia to finding sanctuary underwater as a diver. Now the founder of Jiranileo, an African food tourism company recognized by UN Tourism, Elizabeth is building a business that celebrates culinary heritage and creates opportunities for women and youth.

This is a story of courage, community, and the power of starting over — told with honesty, humor, and hope.

To check out Jiranileo or find out more about Elizabeth Jere's work and travels, see the links below:

Jiranileo website: https://jiranileo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-jere/

Travel blog: https://themoviousmzungu.com/

And if anyone wants to follow Elizabeth's remote life, she posts her travels on Instagram @dadaeliza

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This episode of Women Walking brings together two lifelong friends—Claudia Vondrasek and Lynn Malooly—who each found themselves at major crossroads this year. Claudia, a longtime USAID contractor, was swept up in the abrupt RIF that halted global health programs across the world. Lynn had just stepped into retirement after leading Water for South Sudan for more than a decade. Both were navigating endings they didn’t fully choose—and both turned to walking as a way to make sense of what came next.

Their Camino Portuguese pilgrimage became a space for reflection, laughter, spiritual curiosity, and the kind of conversations that only unfold mile after mile. They talk about the invisible rules that shape health behaviors, the transformative power of clean water, the emotional weight of career transitions, and the unexpected grace of Camino “angels.” Along the way, they rediscovered their friendship, their resilience, and the quiet wisdom that comes from putting one foot in front of the other.

This is an episode about transition, companionship, and the paths—literal and metaphorical—that carry us forward.

See the link below for more information on Breakthrough Action's Cost Comparison activity/tool Claudia and her team used to lead community discussions in the Democratic Republic of Congo about overcoming the perception that health care costs are prohibitive.

https://breakthroughactionandresearch.org/breakthroughs-gallery/cost-comparison-activity/

Find Claudia on Linkedin- www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-vondrasek

See the link below for more information on Water for South Sudan:

https://www.waterforsouthsudan.org/

For more information on the book --A Long Walk to Water --based on the true story of Salva, one of some 3,800 Sudanese “Lost Boys” airlifted to the United States beginning in the mid 1990s -- please see this link:

https://lindasuepark.com/books/books-novels/long_walk/

Find Lynn Malooly on Linkedin--https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-malooly/

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When the wave of public sector layoffs ended Denise Mortimer’s long career at USAID, she turned loss into creative renewal. In this episode, we explore how her RocketBear Project began with sketches of her dog and grew into portraits of colleagues’ pets paired with heartfelt narration. By celebrating the humanity behind public service, Denise offers a fresh and inviting perspective, blending humor, artistry, and compassion to honor dedication and resilience in ways that continue to resonate even after the institution itself was dismantled.

👉 Follow Denise’s RocketBear Project on Instagram: @rocketbearproject