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International team has aided more than 800,000 women with pregnancy support
For many women, an unexpected pregnancy often arrives in the midst of everyday life's deadlines, work schedules, relationships, an even uncertainty. In such a moment, fear can make every path forward seem overwhelming and unbearable.
Profemina International, originally founded in Germany as 1000plus, was built on a simple but powerful conviction: no woman should ever have to face an unexpected pregnancy alone.
Profemina International/1000plus has aided more than 800,000 women since 2009 with pregnancy support.
In 2023, approximately 250,000 women used Profemina’s digital counseling services, while an additional 6,000 sought individual support.
The group is planning a volunteer training program to equip people to stand alongside pregnant women in need. It is also building a network of supporters who distribute printed materials so women can discover Profemina’s services without relying on search engines.
Kristijan Aufiero, founder and CEO of 1000plus and Profemina International, explains that the organization began as a response to a pressing human need. When 1000plus was set up in 2009, its goal of supporting 1,000 women each year appeared ambitious. Yet, as Aufiero recalls, the need soon outgrew that early vision.
“Every single woman in such a dire situation is a reality,” Aufiero told Live Action News. “Requests for help quickly added up, and our organization had to keep pace with the growth. The bold dream became a necessary reality.”
What began as a local response in Germany has since grown into an international mission.
Today, Profemina supports women in several languages through digital resources, written counseling, telephone support, and practical assistance.
Aufiero’s motivation was shaped by what he saw around him: women in deep conflict about their pregnancies, typically beleaguered by circumstances beyond their control.
In Germany, over 100,000 abortions happen annually. “If you have ever seen and felt the desperation and dire need for help of a woman in deep conflict about her pregnancy, you simply have to help as many of them as possible,” he revealed.
Women experiencing an unexpected pregnancy often carry several burdens at once: financial insecurity, a relationship in crisis, fear of being judged, uncertainty about work or studies, and the overwhelming feeling that they have nowhere to turn for help. Profemina was created to address that reality directly.
Requests for help began arriving from across Europe. As demand continued to increase, 1000plus morphed into Profemina International, extending its counseling services and resources across different languages and cultures.
Approximately 250,000 women used Profemina’s digital counseling services in 2023, while a further 6,000 sought individual support. Based on the organization's website, Profemina has now aided more than 800,000 women.
“In Germany, an organization receives public funds only if it concludes its counseling by handing the woman a certificate that also serves as a permit for an abortion,” Aufiero disclosed. But Profemina does not issue these certificates. “Of course, this was no option for us. So we did it our way and were blessed with success.”
Instead, Profemina provides independent counseling meant to help women explore all of their options and access practical support.
That decision has impacted Profemina’s identity. Funded entirely through donations rather than state support, the organization can provide free, life-affirming counseling. Its website portrays its work as independent, non-state, and non-church, guided by principles of empathy, respect, and trust.
Such independence from governments is crucial because women in crisis often need more than information. They need someone who will listen without judgement, help them think clearly without pressuring them into abortion, and remain beside them as they consider their next steps.
Profemina’s approach is premised on a simple insight: women in crisis do not all seek help in the same way.
Some need immediate answers in the middle of the night. Others need a quiet and private space to process their emotions before they feel ready to speak to anyone. Still others need the reassurance of hearing a real person at the other end of the phone.
Profemina blends digital resources with personal counseling. Its online tools, including quizzes and decision-support resources such as an “abortion test” and a cost calculator, are designed to aid women to reflect on their situation. These tools are not intended to replace human care; rather, they frequently serve as a first step towards deeper, more personal support.
“Every person is different, and so are the women who need our help,” Aufiero disclosed. “Our goal is to reach out to every woman who is faced with the question of abortion.”
Digital counseling provides an accessible first point of contact. A woman can explore information privately, without first having to explain her situation to anyone.
Yet Profemina does not stop there. Across its digital services, women are encouraged to reach out directly—by telephone, WhatsApp, email, or in person—to speak with a counsellor.
For many women, moving from anonymous online searching to a real conversation can be a significant step.
Profemina has found that most women considering abortion are most often reacting to external pressures.
“The overwhelming majority of women who find themselves in inner turmoil over an unplanned pregnancy do not actually want an abortion,” Aufiero said. “They want help that makes it possible to bring their child into the world.”
Profemina’s findings highlight a handful of recurring pressures:
Timing of pregnancy
Age
Other responsibilities
Troubled relationships also play a large role. A partner might turn away from the pregnancy, the relationship itself may be shaky, or a woman may feel she has no one at all to lean on. Sometimes the people closest to her, relatives or friends, end up adding to the strain instead of easing it.
Profemina’s counselors work with women to identify their specific obstacles and search for concrete solutions: relationship coaching, help with everyday needs, connections to local support, or assistance with baby supplies.
“When, through our counseling and support, and together with the woman, we succeed in opening viable alternatives to abortion, only then can she make a truly free decision,” Aufiero noted.
Notably, the organization stays involved for as long as a woman wants it to, offering baby supplies or introductions to volunteers who can pitch in with childcare and other everyday needs. The woman herself determines when she no longer needs assistance.
Support may be needed during the pregnancy, following the birth, and through the months and years ahead, as a mother builds a new life for herself and her child.
Every number represents a real person with a story of her own.
One story that Aufiero has never forgotten is that of a young woman named Viola, who was only 15 when she discovered she was pregnant.
Quiet and withdrawn, Viola had lost her mother soon after being born and had grown up with only her father. Her boyfriend vanished at first. Feeling desperate, she posted about her situation on an online forum, where a Profemina counselor came across her message and got in touch.
The exchange between the two lasted several months. At one stage, Viola appeared set on abortion. Yet according to Aufiero, a mother’s love beginning to stir within her, along with the counselor’s gentle encouragement, shifted her thinking.
Viola decided to keep her baby. Her father stood resolutely by her side, and in time her boyfriend came back too, ready to take responsibility.
“Like every mother, Viola was the happiest person on earth the moment she first held her child in her arms,” Aufiero highlighted. “Everyone involved in this case grew, lifted up by one small, as yet unborn life.”
For Aufiero, stories like Viola’s are not simply anecdotes. They are evidence of what becomes possible when a woman is seen, supported, and given real alternatives.
Profemina’s work has drawn its share of conflict. As a pro-life group operating in a deeply divided area, it has endured criticism, verbal hostility, and even attacks on its property.
Aufiero admits that keeping composure amid such opposition can be difficult. Still, he maintains that the opinion of clients is the yardstick that counts above all.
“The feedback on Google and other sites shows what the people who matter most think: the pregnant women,” he declared. “And after reading their opinion about us, I sleep well.”
The “Academy for Life” is the next big undertaking on Profemina’s agenda. It is a volunteer training program meant to equip people to stand alongside pregnant women who are struggling. Profemina hopes to "widen our field of operations to reach more people across Europe who are willing and able to support pregnant women in need,” Aufiero emphasized.
Additionally, Profemina is also adapting to a changing online world. With artificial intelligence changing the way people find information, the organization is building its “Rescue Alliance,” a network of supporters who hand out printed materials such as flyers and posters so that women can discover Profemina’s services without relying on search engines.
Aufiero views the mission as unchanging, even as the tactics shift. The aim is to connect with more women, provide greater support, and foster a culture that treasures and safeguards life.
Aufiero notes that, though the initial jolt of an unexpected pregnancy can feel crushing, nobody should make a decision that is irreversible while gripped by panic.
“When we are driven by fear, pressure, and panic, it is almost impossible to make a good decision, because we can no longer see anything positive,” Aufiero said. “Allow those first feelings to settle before you decide.”
Aufiero’s closing words double as an invitation: do not go through unexpected pregnancies by yourself. “There is more help out there than you might think right now,” he said.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
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·International team has aided more than 800,000 women with pregnancy support
For many women, an unexpected pregnancy often arrives in the midst of everyday life's deadlines, work schedules, relationships, an even uncertainty. In such a moment, fear can make every path forward seem overwhelming and unbearable.
Profemina International, originally founded in Germany as 1000plus, was built on a simple but powerful conviction: no woman should ever have to face an unexpected pregnancy alone.
Profemina International/1000plus has aided more than 800,000 women since 2009 with pregnancy support.
In 2023, approximately 250,000 women used Profemina’s digital counseling services, while an additional 6,000 sought individual support.
The group is planning a volunteer training program to equip people to stand alongside pregnant women in need. It is also building a network of supporters who distribute printed materials so women can discover Profemina’s services without relying on search engines.
Kristijan Aufiero, founder and CEO of 1000plus and Profemina International, explains that the organization began as a response to a pressing human need. When 1000plus was set up in 2009, its goal of supporting 1,000 women each year appeared ambitious. Yet, as Aufiero recalls, the need soon outgrew that early vision.
“Every single woman in such a dire situation is a reality,” Aufiero told Live Action News. “Requests for help quickly added up, and our organization had to keep pace with the growth. The bold dream became a necessary reality.”
What began as a local response in Germany has since grown into an international mission.
Today, Profemina supports women in several languages through digital resources, written counseling, telephone support, and practical assistance.
Aufiero’s motivation was shaped by what he saw around him: women in deep conflict about their pregnancies, typically beleaguered by circumstances beyond their control.
In Germany, over 100,000 abortions happen annually. “If you have ever seen and felt the desperation and dire need for help of a woman in deep conflict about her pregnancy, you simply have to help as many of them as possible,” he revealed.
Women experiencing an unexpected pregnancy often carry several burdens at once: financial insecurity, a relationship in crisis, fear of being judged, uncertainty about work or studies, and the overwhelming feeling that they have nowhere to turn for help. Profemina was created to address that reality directly.
Requests for help began arriving from across Europe. As demand continued to increase, 1000plus morphed into Profemina International, extending its counseling services and resources across different languages and cultures.
Approximately 250,000 women used Profemina’s digital counseling services in 2023, while a further 6,000 sought individual support. Based on the organization's website, Profemina has now aided more than 800,000 women.
“In Germany, an organization receives public funds only if it concludes its counseling by handing the woman a certificate that also serves as a permit for an abortion,” Aufiero disclosed. But Profemina does not issue these certificates. “Of course, this was no option for us. So we did it our way and were blessed with success.”
Instead, Profemina provides independent counseling meant to help women explore all of their options and access practical support.
That decision has impacted Profemina’s identity. Funded entirely through donations rather than state support, the organization can provide free, life-affirming counseling. Its website portrays its work as independent, non-state, and non-church, guided by principles of empathy, respect, and trust.
Such independence from governments is crucial because women in crisis often need more than information. They need someone who will listen without judgement, help them think clearly without pressuring them into abortion, and remain beside them as they consider their next steps.
Profemina’s approach is premised on a simple insight: women in crisis do not all seek help in the same way.
Some need immediate answers in the middle of the night. Others need a quiet and private space to process their emotions before they feel ready to speak to anyone. Still others need the reassurance of hearing a real person at the other end of the phone.
Profemina blends digital resources with personal counseling. Its online tools, including quizzes and decision-support resources such as an “abortion test” and a cost calculator, are designed to aid women to reflect on their situation. These tools are not intended to replace human care; rather, they frequently serve as a first step towards deeper, more personal support.
“Every person is different, and so are the women who need our help,” Aufiero disclosed. “Our goal is to reach out to every woman who is faced with the question of abortion.”
Digital counseling provides an accessible first point of contact. A woman can explore information privately, without first having to explain her situation to anyone.
Yet Profemina does not stop there. Across its digital services, women are encouraged to reach out directly—by telephone, WhatsApp, email, or in person—to speak with a counsellor.
For many women, moving from anonymous online searching to a real conversation can be a significant step.
Profemina has found that most women considering abortion are most often reacting to external pressures.
“The overwhelming majority of women who find themselves in inner turmoil over an unplanned pregnancy do not actually want an abortion,” Aufiero said. “They want help that makes it possible to bring their child into the world.”
Profemina’s findings highlight a handful of recurring pressures:
Timing of pregnancy
Age
Other responsibilities
Troubled relationships also play a large role. A partner might turn away from the pregnancy, the relationship itself may be shaky, or a woman may feel she has no one at all to lean on. Sometimes the people closest to her, relatives or friends, end up adding to the strain instead of easing it.
Profemina’s counselors work with women to identify their specific obstacles and search for concrete solutions: relationship coaching, help with everyday needs, connections to local support, or assistance with baby supplies.
“When, through our counseling and support, and together with the woman, we succeed in opening viable alternatives to abortion, only then can she make a truly free decision,” Aufiero noted.
Notably, the organization stays involved for as long as a woman wants it to, offering baby supplies or introductions to volunteers who can pitch in with childcare and other everyday needs. The woman herself determines when she no longer needs assistance.
Support may be needed during the pregnancy, following the birth, and through the months and years ahead, as a mother builds a new life for herself and her child.
Every number represents a real person with a story of her own.
One story that Aufiero has never forgotten is that of a young woman named Viola, who was only 15 when she discovered she was pregnant.
Quiet and withdrawn, Viola had lost her mother soon after being born and had grown up with only her father. Her boyfriend vanished at first. Feeling desperate, she posted about her situation on an online forum, where a Profemina counselor came across her message and got in touch.
The exchange between the two lasted several months. At one stage, Viola appeared set on abortion. Yet according to Aufiero, a mother’s love beginning to stir within her, along with the counselor’s gentle encouragement, shifted her thinking.
Viola decided to keep her baby. Her father stood resolutely by her side, and in time her boyfriend came back too, ready to take responsibility.
“Like every mother, Viola was the happiest person on earth the moment she first held her child in her arms,” Aufiero highlighted. “Everyone involved in this case grew, lifted up by one small, as yet unborn life.”
For Aufiero, stories like Viola’s are not simply anecdotes. They are evidence of what becomes possible when a woman is seen, supported, and given real alternatives.
Profemina’s work has drawn its share of conflict. As a pro-life group operating in a deeply divided area, it has endured criticism, verbal hostility, and even attacks on its property.
Aufiero admits that keeping composure amid such opposition can be difficult. Still, he maintains that the opinion of clients is the yardstick that counts above all.
“The feedback on Google and other sites shows what the people who matter most think: the pregnant women,” he declared. “And after reading their opinion about us, I sleep well.”
The “Academy for Life” is the next big undertaking on Profemina’s agenda. It is a volunteer training program meant to equip people to stand alongside pregnant women who are struggling. Profemina hopes to "widen our field of operations to reach more people across Europe who are willing and able to support pregnant women in need,” Aufiero emphasized.
Additionally, Profemina is also adapting to a changing online world. With artificial intelligence changing the way people find information, the organization is building its “Rescue Alliance,” a network of supporters who hand out printed materials such as flyers and posters so that women can discover Profemina’s services without relying on search engines.
Aufiero views the mission as unchanging, even as the tactics shift. The aim is to connect with more women, provide greater support, and foster a culture that treasures and safeguards life.
Aufiero notes that, though the initial jolt of an unexpected pregnancy can feel crushing, nobody should make a decision that is irreversible while gripped by panic.
“When we are driven by fear, pressure, and panic, it is almost impossible to make a good decision, because we can no longer see anything positive,” Aufiero said. “Allow those first feelings to settle before you decide.”
Aufiero’s closing words double as an invitation: do not go through unexpected pregnancies by yourself. “There is more help out there than you might think right now,” he said.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
Cassy Cooke
·Guest Column
Mark Lee Dickson
·Guest Column
Mark Lee Dickson
·Guest Column
Mark Lee Dickson
·Activism
Nancy Flanders
·Activism
Angeline Tan
·Human Interest
Angeline Tan
·International
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·International
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·Activism
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·International
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·