What if the support you need to change your life isn’t far away - just one dinner away? For Rosanna, Gratsiela, and Atefa, joining After5 wasn’t just about making new friends. It became the spark for personal transformation, healing, and even creative breakthroughs.
These three women met through After5 and quickly discovered that something powerful happens when ambition, openness, and support come together - especially in a room full of like-minded women. For Rosanna, the experience led to something remarkable: she finally published her book - a milestone she credits to the support of the friends she met through After5.
In Search of Something More
“I was looking for something - and After5 was exactly it.”
Atefa had been searching for deeper female support. Working in a male-dominated industry, she craved honest conversations and connection with other women also trying to figure life out. “I wanted to be around ambitious girls who were also finding their way. Women who get it & who are open about what they’re going through.”
For Gratsiela, the need for connection came at a pivotal moment: “I had just gone through a breakup and moved to the Netherlands. I realized most of my friends were colleagues and that I was craving something deeper. I thought, when was the last time I felt genuinely happy? And the answer was: when I was surrounded by women who cheered me on.” It felt important to her to meet women in a safe space, no men trying to hit on her.
Rosanna, on the other hand, had something sitting quietly in the background: an unpublished manuscript at home and a dream to finally bring it to life. “I had this story, this book, but I didn’t know if I could really do it. There were so many taboos, so much self-doubt. After5 helped me get over myself.”
From Strangers to Support System
Meeting new people as an adult isn’t easy. But the three women describe their first After5 gathering with warmth, nerves, and surprising ease. They met for A Drink with After5.
“At first it was a little shy - we didn’t know what to expect,” Atefa said. “But once we did intros and got talking, it just clicked. We even went out for pizza after.”
Gratsiela remembers it as a turning point: “I realized - these are women who actually want to be in each other’s lives. It wasn’t forced. It was real.”
For Rosanna, the evening brought a quiet but growing sense of hope: “I don’t get excited fast. But the more the night went on, the more I felt like - this is something special.”
New friendship and rekindled ambition: Achieving more together.
It didn’t stop at dinner. They mentioned that, while they all prioritized this friendship, it all happened very naturally, without any pressure. The friendships they built have become a cornerstone of their everyday lives. A space to share, push, and grow.
And for Rosanna, that support changed everything.
“I would not have published my book without After5. Period.”
She’s matter-of-fact about it. “Having these women around me gave me the push to go for it. To walk into bookstores, to talk with owners, to put myself out there. When you have people around you who say, ‘This is cool, you should do it,’ it’s no longer about external rejection, it’s about personal momentum.”
Her book, now published in Dutch, covers the uncomfortable truths and big questions women face in their 20s. “There’s so much we don’t say out loud. But these friendships gave me the courage to be honest, and to write it anyway.”
For Atefa, it’s been about emotional growth and perspective: “We’re all so different but I’ve learned from each of them. I can talk about anything I’m going through, without judgment. That release, that space? That’s huge.”
Gratsiela adds: “After5 gave me peace of mind. These women see me. They believe in me. It made me believe in myself more and dream bigger. When I was looking for a new place and wasn’t sure I would get one on time, they even told me, ‘You can crash on my couch anytime.’ That kind of support? You don’t take it for granted.”
The Real Impact: A Book, A Shift, A Beginning
After5 isn’t just about meeting people. It’s about creating the kind of relationships that make you more of yourself. Rosanna’s book is just one example of what happens when women are given a safe space to connect, create, and cheer each other on.
And as Gratsiela puts it, “Friendship like this? It’s a soft place to land and a powerful place to launch from.”
About Rosanna Blond's Book 'Liever Jij Dan Ik'
‘Liever Jij Dan Ik’ is a story written in Dutch about three students living it up in Delft. The story is filled with relatable scenes about being young, in love, and sometimes even reckless.