Midwifery Internship (Philippines)

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meets." -Fredrick Beuchner

In February 2010, I enrolled in National College of Midwifery and began my journey towards becoming a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM).  The path to become a midwife is rewarding and challenging, also one I feel deeply called to pursue.  I have worked as as childbirth educator since 2007, a DONA-trained doula since 2008, and have attended births as a student midwife off and on since 2011.  To date, I have attended approximately 70 births.
Deep down, my heart is to one day bring maternity care to marginalized women who have little or no access to maternity care. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in developing countries nearly half of all mothers and newborns do not receive skilled care during and immediately after birth.
Up to two thirds of newborn deaths could be prevented if skilled health workers performed effective health measures at birth and during the first week of life. For every 1,000 babies born in the Philippines, 19 of them will die in their first year and
for every 100,000 pregnant mothers, 230 of them will die from birth and pregnancy related causes.
Because of these statistics and God's heart to love and serve the poor, I believe cross-cultural midwifery training is essential to how I would like to use my skills in the future.  A midwife works on a very intimate level with a laboring mother and her family.  Oftentimes, the relationship that develops with a midwife and her client has the opportunity to transcend cultural barriers that might otherwise cause a divide. I have seen this first-hand while serving briefly at a birthing center in Davao City, Philippines in 2008. Our family's hope is to one day serve- sharing the love and mercy of Christ with others in developing countries either on a short term basis or long term.
In the more near future, I hope to use the skills I learn to serve women as a midwife in my own community of Charlottesville, VA.  Serving at Shiphrah Birthing Home will help me finish most (if not all) of my clinical requirements for midwifery school.  After this is complete, I will sit for the lisencing exam and when I pass the exam I will be a certified professional midwife (CPM).

I have been accepted to the internship program at Shiphrah Birthing Home and plan on being there from July 2nd-September 10th 2014.  My fees are:
Plane ticket: $1200-$2000
Internship fees: $850/month x 2.5 months= $2125
Visa: about $200
Food costs: about $250

I'm extremly grateful if you are even considering donating to my internship fund.  No matter the amount, each dollar will help.  There are some perks for certain levels of contribution and they are listed as rewards. Please contact me if you are considering donating a reward amount so we can work out the details of the reward with you.  Thank you so much :)  
Other ways to help include sharing this page on facebook, twitter or with your friends through email! If you're in Charlottesville, I know that my husband would appreciate some support through meals and help with childcare once school begins at the end of August. Without his support, I wouldn't be able to complete my training and serve the women at Shiphrah birthing home.  Thank you for your support, thoughts and prayers.

To read a little more about me and my background, please refer to my business website, One Gentle Beginning.

A video about Shiphrah Birthing Home: