About us
Rajo is the Somali word for hope, and it is what we exist to restore. Rajo Mental Health Education & Support (Rajo MHES) is a Somali health-professionals-led UK charity dedicated to promoting mental wellbeing, raising awareness, and supporting individuals and families affected by mental health challenges, in both Somalia and the United Kingdom.
Established in October 2020, Rajo MHES was founded in response to growing concern within the Somali community about the rising prevalence of mental health difficulties, emotional distress, and the limited access to appropriate support, both in the UK and in Somalia.
The story begins earlier. In 2014, Somali diaspora women from the UK, Sweden and the United States visited Galdogob and saw the state of mental health care first-hand: people chained to trees, locked in their homes, or wandering the streets in desperate need of treatment. At the time, the town's only dedicated facility was a basic clinic, the Prof. Yusuf Hersi clinic, with little capacity to meet that need.
Community meetings of local professionals, business owners, religious leaders and youth groups followed, and funds were raised through mosques, door-to-door collections, local businesses and online giving.3 With that support from the diaspora and Rajo MHES, the clinic was transformed into the Galdogob Mental Health Center, opened in October 2020: an inpatient facility with trained healthcare workers and modern psychiatric medicines.
The Galdogob Mental Health Center, grown from the former Prof. Yusuf Hersi clinic still named on its wall: inpatient wards, staff housing and solar power within a walled compound.
The organisation was created to address stigma, improve understanding of mental health, and advocate for culturally sensitive support for those in need. Mental health challenges can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, background or circumstances. The World Health Organization estimates that one in three Somalis will experience a mental health difficulty at some point in their lives.1 Yet the country has just three qualified psychiatrists working in public facilities, and an estimated 5% of people with mental illness ever reach professional care.2
Good mental health is not only about treatment and recovery, but also prevention, early intervention, resilience and overall wellbeing. Through education, advocacy, community engagement and direct support, Rajo MHES works to inform, educate and empower individuals and communities, building healthier, more resilient communities in both Somalia and the United Kingdom.
Rajo is led by Dr Abdirashid Takar, a UK-registered doctor and mental health specialist. He holds a medical degree from the University of Naples (Federico II) and an MSc in Psychiatry from Cardiff University, and brings 16 years' experience as a forensic medical examiner and, currently, as a specialty doctor in addiction psychiatry with Change Grow Live (CGL), the UK's largest provider of drug and alcohol treatment services. He is lead author of a peer-reviewed case report on the Galdogob Mental Health Center published in the Somali Health Action Journal (2025).3
Where we work
Galdogob lies in the Mudug region of Puntland, in north-central Somalia, close to the border with Ethiopia. It is remote and underserved. From here, the Galdogob Mental Health Center reaches a catchment of roughly 9,000 km², including neighbouring districts such as Galkacyo, a city of around 500,000 people.
Somalia is one of the world's lowest-income countries. Decades of conflict, recurrent drought and famine have left much of the population in poverty, with fragile health services and mental health care scarcest of all: just three qualified psychiatrists work in public facilities nationwide,2 and an estimated 5% of people with mental illness ever reach professional care.2 It is against this backdrop that Rajo's work in Galdogob matters most.
What drives us
To improve mental health outcomes for those we serve. As a small charity, every contribution has a meaningful impact on real lives.
Empowering individuals with the knowledge and resources for mental wellbeing, and supporting those living with mental illness.
Compassion, dignity, inclusion, cultural understanding and evidence-based practice, so every person receives the support they need.
We provide comprehensive mental health services: assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, family support and community outreach. We work to reduce stigma, promote early intervention, and help people regain dignity, independence and hope.
We support the Somali community through mental health education, awareness campaigns, advocacy and culturally sensitive engagement, working with individuals, families, community leaders and partner organisations to improve understanding and challenge stigma.
Why people trust Rajo
Founded and led by Somali health professionals, with care delivered by local qualified clinicians who live in the communities they serve.
Rajo Mental Health Education & Support is a UK-registered charity established in 2020, working across both Somalia and the United Kingdom.
Guided by compassion, dignity, inclusion and evidence-based practice, with a dedicated space for prayer, education and faith-based emotional support.
Help us bring dignified, culturally grounded mental health care to the people who need it most.
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