A woman who was helped by a pro-life clinic to keep her baby now helps other mothers make the right decision for their children, saving them from abortion. “If I can do it, they can do it, too. They’re stronger than they think.”

Da’Chiron, a mother from Mississippi in the United States, works as a manager at the Center for Pregnancy Choices (CPC), the same organisation that helped her choose life for her baby.

When Da’Chiron was pregnant with her first child she turned to CPC, as she was a student and believed she couldn’t raise a child on her own. At the time, she was “overwhelmed” with a sense of fear.

“I needed support. I needed time to process things, have someone to talk to outside my family”, she recalls. 

At CPC, Da’Chiron was received with “open arms”. The organisation provided her with what she needed to get through the pregnancy, including counselling, prenatal vitamins and an ultrasound.

As a result of this support, Da’Chiron herself became “involved in the pro-life movement, just learning the language of it, the importance of it and the ways that we can support each and every individual as much as we can”, she explains.

Now, Da’Chiron works with CPC to help other mothers, especially students, who are in a similar situation. “We’re here to support them in any way that we can.”

Da’Chiron is also working on a PhD that studies the “correlation between mental health, illness and unplanned pregnancy”. Support for pregnant women is vital, she stresses, “so that the pregnancy outcome is healthy for both mom and baby”.

SPUC’s Alma Mater Fund

Margaret Akers, the facilitator of SPUC’s Alma Mater Fund, said: “One of the ways we can prevent and reduce abortion is to provide vital support to students in a crisis pregnancy.

“SPUC has its own Alma Mater Fund, providing grants to pregnant university students who find themselves in difficulty. This initiative has expanded in recent months.

“It is such a joy to see how this SPUC initiative has grown. We always knew there was a need for this support. Women who become pregnant while at university are often under significant pressure to drop out of their studies or end their pregnancy.

“We are glad to offer an alternative, and support women in pursuing their academic goals as they raise their children. If you are currently experiencing such a crisis, we are here for you.”

“Great support”

Kira, a recent recipient of the Alma Mater Fund, said: “The Alma Mater Fund has been such a great support with my pregnancy and has provided me with this fund so quickly to ease my financial pressure. I would definitely recommend that any mothers who are struggling contact Alma Mater, even if it is just for advice on how to cope with the pressure of studies.”

Another recipient, Alexa, said: “The Alma Mater Fund was extremely helpful, and the support offered really motivated me to go through with my university career. It is hard enough to balance full-time employment and studies on a regular basis, and while pregnant it might feel like the world is crushing you and you might want to give up. Finding out there is support out there for mothers that want to finish their academic journey gave me the strength needed to plan my path.”

Contact the Alma Mater Fund today to learn how to apply:

Call, text or WhatsApp: 07849 088 244

Email: info@almamaterfund.org.uk

Find us on Instagram and Facebook @almamaterfund

Or visit our Alma Mater Fund webpage at https://www.spuc.org.uk/Get-Involved/Education/Alma-Mater-Fund