The experience of the volunteers

A year ago my story with the Crisis Pregnancy Centre started. As if a line of a coincidences led me to Crisis centre home page krizescentrs.lv. I wanted very much to get involved in some way into the work of the centre and help somebody, so they would not do the big mistake I did 27 years ago, when I was just 18 years old and I had an abortion. During these years I was tortured by depression, feeling of inferiority, not accepting myself. As I found out later, the fact that the abortion is just a medical manipulation and you can live as nothing would not have happened, is not true. The abortion is interference into the plan of life, taking away life of a young person, who is trusted to you as your child, and after-abortion syndrome is natural. 

At the Internet home page of the crisis centre I found out, that it is possible to volunteer at this centre only after finishing the training course. It consists of two parts - Called to Care (Aicināti rūpēties) and The Journey (Ceļojums). The training once a week became an important part of my life. At these training sessions I got acquainted with women who were also ready to help others, but I certainly know that as a result we got help for ourselves too! This time was not easy, especially The Journey (Ceļojums), because during the training the most hidden pain was touched. The old wounds were torn up and "cleaned", so that they could heal forever. I still have one question in mind from the training materials - How did you feel in life before and after the abortion? When I had the abortion, I was very young and did not know what is the feeling when the adults feel good in their lives. Now I am 45 years old. The training course ended in June this year. When we all met again in September and we talked over how we had been the last summer, I understood that the feeling of my life has become brighter, richer, more valuable and I feel more wholesome. I think now I know how happy adults feel and I have been forgiven, that I took the life of a little one but already a human being. 

Indra

I got to know about the Crisis Pregnancy Centre by accident, by "sitting" at one.lv. I just spotted the advert and read it. I decided straight away that it would be interesting to me.

From the training I expected understanding about work with crisis pregnancy cases and the specifics of after-abortion syndrome. During the training I went through two programmes and received the certificates of Crisis pregnancy and After-abortion counselling.

The new thing for me was that the consultations at the Crisis Pregnancy Centre are Bible-based. It was a completely new experience for me and, in my opinion, - very important. During the training and after that I had an opportunity to look at different things from other sides and find out new solutions.

I plan to volunteer at the Crisis Pregnancy Centre, by carrying out consultations and giving lectures at schools. I would also like to elaborate the programme of group sessions for women who have suffered after-abortion.

And, sure enough, at CPC I met many nice women who do a significant work, not saving their strength and time, women who care. It makes me glad and I am thankful for this meeting!

Jeļena

I am a psychologist-to-be, and as every new specialist, who thinks about the development of their professional skills and personality, I was looking for opportunities where to gain new competencies. I got to know about the Crisis Pregnancy Centre, by "surfing" in the Internet and I found this excellent opportunity to learn and after that to work as a volunteer consultant. This was a completely new experience for me, as I had not thought that in Latvia we have such organizations which can help women after abortions, or those women who experience unwanted pregnancy. The knowledge I gained during the training I consider as very valuable. These are universal truths that have been proven in practice and they are useful not only for representatives of "assisting professions" but also to every person who takes care about his/her closest people's psychological and physical well-being.

Karīna

About Crisis Pregnancy centre I found out from my friend. She suggested me this option - to learn and maybe in the future to work as a volunteer in this centre.

The training was very useful - I got to know a lot of new things about myself, and the experience of the Crisis Pregnancy Centre in work with people who come to consultations . I got to know about the despair of those people who have had abortion or premature baby loss.

At the moment I work at the Crisis Pregnancy Centre as a volunteer - I help women who have had miscarriage or premature baby loss.

Kristīne