Garissa is preparing to host the Nafis Night Sisterhood Gala on 14 December 2025, an event designed to bring women together for an evening focused on empowerment, healing, and honest conversations about mental health.
The gathering will unite women leaders, mental health advocates, and community voices who share a desire to create a stronger support system for women in the region.
It is organized by Dr Neemo Yussuf, a counselling psychologist and founder of Safe Haven Consultancy, who has been working to promote emotional wellness and open dialogue in the community.
Dr Yussuf explains that the gala is meant to celebrate women by creating a space where sisterhood, culture, and healing come together.
Her goal goes beyond hosting a single event; she wants to build a movement where women continue to feel seen, heard, and supported long after the evening ends.
This year’s theme, “Mental Health and Women Empowerment,” highlights the importance of emotional well-being and the need for women to speak openly about the pressures they carry.
The gala will take place from 6pm to 8pm at a local resort and will encourage discussions on resilience and everyday struggles that often go unspoken.
Attendees will be welcomed into a warm, sisterhood-centred atmosphere that focuses on honesty and connection.
The programme includes networking circles where women can share their experiences, storytelling moments that reflect real-life challenges, inspirational talks from invited guests, and interactive sessions designed to help participants engage deeply with the conversations.
Organisers have ensured that the entire event will take place in a judgment-free environment.
By blending mental health discussions with Somali cultural elements, the gala aims to make the idea of healing feel familiar and accessible.
This approach is meant to help women relate to the topics more naturally and feel encouraged to take steps toward emotional wellness.
The chief guest for the evening will be legislator Umulkheir Harun. She will be joined by Fatuma Ali of Queendom and Dr Fatuma Daqane from Garissa County Referral Hospital.
These speakers will address issues related to mental health, leadership, and the value of supportive networks.
They are expected to offer practical advice on how women can cope with daily pressures while protecting their emotional well-being.
According to the organisers, the gala will create a safe and inspiring space where women can share honest conversations and listen to motivating stories. Many women carry emotional and social burdens quietly, and Dr Yussuf says the event seeks to change that by offering representation, mentorship, and a platform to speak openly about difficult topics.
The evening will revolve around three main themes: women in leadership and community development, empowerment through identity and culture, and emotional wellness.
These themes aim to build confidence, strengthen cultural pride, and remind women of the importance of caring for their mental health.
Dr Yussuf believes that when women feel supported and valued, the entire society becomes stronger.
She says the Nafis Night Sisterhood Gala is set to grow into a meaningful platform for women-led empowerment and mental health awareness in the region.
