About us
SOS Grossesse Estrie was created when, after two years of consideration, a group of individuals gathered at Caritas Estrie realized that many women and young girls were in need of help. They found themselves in unplanned pregnancy situations and faced an important decision to make: whether to choose continuing the pregnancy, adoption, or abortion.
SOS Grossesse Estrie is a community group and non-profit organisation located in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
Mission
SOS Grossesse Estrie provides free, confidential, bilingual, pro-choice support and listening services. Our services are offered to women, young girls, transgender, and non-binary people who are either experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, are worried about being pregnant, or are facing a difficult situation during their pregnancy. These services are also available to the people close to them: partners, caregivers, family, friends, etc.
Intervention philosophy
At SOS Grossesse Estrie, we believe in each individual’s capacity to make their own choices and live by them. This intervention philosophy allows us to assist someone in making their choices regarding an unplanned pregnancy without ever seeking to influence or advise them. By honoring their values, beliefs, life experiences, etc., we ensure that they have complete control over their own lives.
Our history
SOS Grossesse Estrie was created when, after two years of consideration, a group of individuals gathered at Caritas Estrie realized that many women and young girls were in need of help. They found themselves in unplanned pregnancy situations and faced an important decision to make: whether to choose continuing the pregnancy, adoption or abortion.
1988
On September 20, 1988, SOS Grossesse opened its doors with a team of volunteers ready to take on the challenge! These twelve women provided telephone support and greeted women on the premises who wished to take a pregnancy test or meet someone to talk to.
1991-1992
A part-time worker is hired to supervise volunteers, oversee the management of the organisation and provide professional counselling services.
Realizing that partners, friends and parents are seeking help, services are offered to meet their needs.
1998
SOS Grossesse Estrie turns 10. The team and the organization are expanding!
We continue to train volunteers and organise prevention activities in schools and youth centers around Valentine’s Day, the Christmas holidays, etc.
We join forces with the Escouade Caoutchouc (Rubber Squad) to distribute condoms in bars, aiming to prevent sexually transmitted and/or blood-borne infections and unplanned pregnancies.
1999
SOS Grossesse Estrie launches its website and now provides an email support service to reach more people.
The organization acquires a toll-free number allowing better accessibility to its services in the Eastern Townships.
2004-2005
A film project called Je me protège, un peu, beaucoup…is developed to promote prevention and provide information in youth centers and schools across the Eastern Townships.
2012-2013
SOS Grossesse Estrie celebrates 25 years! A large celebration is organized to acknowledge the involvement of everyone who contributed to the advancement of the organization.
A training program for youth interveners and those working with women is developed. More than 120 participants from 55 resources in the region are reached and involved.
2018
SOS Grossesse Estrie celebrates 30 years! In addition to renewing its image, an event is organized to highlight the expertise of the organization.
With the return of sexual education courses, we joined forces with other community organisations in the Eastern Townships to create the Community Alliance in Support of Sexual Education (Alliance Communautaire en soutien à l’éducation à la sexualité).
2019
At the beginning of the year, we had to quickly relocate our organization. Within a two-month timeframe, we had to take on the challenge of finding new premises, packing our belongings, and moving, all without interrupting our support services.
2020-2021
In 2020–2021, due to the pandemic, telework was favored to protect the health of our workers and our clientele, and we adapted successfully to this new reality.
For three decades, the organization has remained highly active in the community and continues to innovate, with the constant objective of being there for all individuals affected by an unplanned pregnancy.
2022-2023
In 2022-2023, we set up the projet Intervenante accès jeunesse to offer our services directly or come and talk informally with young people (ex. at lunchtime, etc.) in various youth settings, because of the difficulty young people have in getting to the various resources.
2023-2024
The year 2023-2024 marked 35 years of commitment and support for the organization in the Eastern Townships. In addition, two new projects were launched: Évaluation et refonte des services post pandémiques and the project Pour une meilleure accessibilité des services de SOS Grossesse Estrie.
Our team
Executive director
Paskale
Communications
Audrey-Anne et Antonia
Resource Intervener
Ghislaine
Assistant director
Anne-Sophie
Intervener-animator
Adjany
Intervener-animator
Daphné
Intervener-animator
Julianne
Intervener-animator
Alejandra
Intervener-animator
Sabrina
Animator
Mariane
Thanks to everyone!
Thanks to hundreds of people, including volunteers, interns and interveners, the organization was able to be known and help a large number of people who are either experiencing an unplanned pregnancy or who are part of their inner circle.