This story comes from Jussara Brito at Al Wakra Hospital at the Hamad Medical Corporation, in Qatar. She is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Public Health working at Al Wakra for 7 years at the WellBeing clinic – which is a perinatal mental health clinic.

It was their first experience hosting World Cafe.

Jussara and her team developed the Women’s World Café – Ummoumah (Arabic motherhood) Project; a series of reflective sessions designed to empower women and support maternal and family health.

The team designed a series of World Cafes, two of which have been held and the third will happen later this year:

1) The first session, held on May 7th, focused on Perinatal Mental Health

2) The second session, celebrated in August during World Breastfeeding Week, explored

Breastfeeding under the theme “Invest in breastfeeding, invest in the future.”

3) The third session, scheduled later this year, will be dedicated to Family Planning methods, combining reflective dialogue with clinical teaching.

This project and the subsquent events were the first of their kind in Qatar’s healthcare sector—an inclusive, hospital-based forum focused on fostering emotional wellbeing and offering meaningful support for women during pregnancy and after childbirth (postpartum). The Ummomah Project reflects the hospital’s core values of engaging patients, families, and care teams in meaningful dialogue that respects lived experiences, emotional needs, and shared decision-making.

We’re excited to share their story and photographs from these events to, as they so kindly expressed, “inspire and connect with other groups like themselves around the globe.”

The team from Al Wakra Hospital, led by Dr. Jussara Brito, and including Ms. Parwaneh Elias Al Shibani (Executive Director of Nursing), Ms. Salwa Alrawaili (Assistant Executive Director of Nursing). Dr. Marwa Samir, and Ms. Tamara Al Shdafat (OB-GYN Division Leader) – opened the first event to explore topics including the women’s feeling experiences and feelings during pregnancy and post partum,

Held in a relaxed café-style setting, participants, including pregnant and postpartum women, joined rotating table discussions around key topics like emotional struggles, stigma, self-care, and available support systems.

The gatherings were designed to create safe, open spaces for women to share experiences, learn from one another, and co-create ideas for improving health and wellbeing.

Participants shared heartfelt feedback after the World Cafe:

“It’s the first time I’ve felt heard, not just informed.”

“We cried, we shared, we felt lighter.”

“This wasn’t just a workshop. It was healing.

Unlike traditional awareness events, the World Café centered on emotional connection and mutual understanding. Mothers openly shared early signs of stress and anxiety, addressed stigma, and discussed practical self-care strategies. These honest conversations offered staff valuable insight into the often-unseen emotional struggles many women face.

“Together, we’re building a future where maternal care includes mental health—because every mother deserves to be heard, supported, and understood.”

Have a look at this image gallery for more insights into the first ground-breaking event:

The second World Cafe, focused on Breastfeeding.
With the theme “Invest in Breastfeeding, Invest in the Future,” this event built on the success of the inaugural session and continued to provide a safe, inclusive, hospital-based platform for open dialogue, emotional support, and shared learning between mothers, families, and healthcare teams.

Endorsed by the World Health Organization, the theme highlighted the vital role of breastfeeding support across all levels of society—from healthcare systems to homes and workplaces—and its lasting impact on maternal and child health as well as broader community well-being.

This initiative embodies the essence of Person-Centered Care: fostering respectful, authentic engagement with patients and families by valuing lived experiences, promoting emotional wellness, and encouraging collaborative, informed decision-making.

The Cafe explored topics like Preparing for Breastfeeding; Initiation and Early Challenges; The Emotional Impact of Breastfeeding; Husband and Family Support; and Breastfeeding and Working Mothers

Feedback from participants at this event, also, was deeply moving:

• “I felt safe to share what I couldn’t say before.”
• “Hearing others gave me courage and comfort.”
• “It wasn’t just an event—it felt like a community.”

“Supporting breastfeeding isn’t just about health, it’s about empowerment, connection, and emotional wellbeing, “stated Ms. Parwaneh Elias Al Shibani in her message of encouragement.

“We are proud to witness our teams lead with empathy and purpose, added Ms. Salwa Al Rawaili.

What’s Next?
Building on the success of the first two sessions, the Ummomah Project will continue with quarterly Women’s World Cafés, addressing key topics such as:

• Family planning and mental readiness
• Postpartum recovery and emotional wellness

 Each session will strengthen emotional safety, promote shared learning, and bridge the gap between clinical care and lived maternal experience, defining elements of Person-Centered Care.

 “Together, we are building a future where every mother feels heard, supported, and understood—because investing in breastfeeding is truly investing in the collective future. “