It takes a one-hour motorcycle ride and seven kilometers of walking for 26-year-old Jowena Bangcas to reach the health center of an indigenous peoples' community in the town of Carmen, North Cotabato in southern Philippines where she serves as a health worker.

Jowena doesn’t mind because serving the tribe is her way of giving back to the Arumanen-Manobo people of Sitio Gawasan who brought her closer to her dream of becoming a midwife. She was one of the midwifery students who received assistance from the Indigenous Peoples’ Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition Project (IPMNCHN Project) in Mindanao. 

The Project, a joint initiative by the European Union and the United Nations Population Fund, with the National Commission on Indigenous People, promotes maternal health and family planning in five IP communities in Mindanao. The project component includes review scholarships to midwifery students who are willing to serve in the IP communities.

Jowena had graduated from her midwifery course in 2007 but her practice was delayed as she had yet to pass the midwifery licensure examination. She did not have the resources to enroll in a good review class to prepare her for the examination. 

In 2014, through the IPMNCHN Project scholarship, she was able to enroll in a midwifery licensure examination review class. Aside from her tuition, the scholarship also paid for her board and lodging in Davao City for the duration of her review. In November that same year, she passed the examination. 

“Before I was accepted into the review scholarship, the tribal leaders of Sitio Gawasan asked me if I was willing to serve the community. Becoming a midwife was a childhood dream so I am ready and willing to serve, especially in this community,” Jowena narrated, adding, “This is my way of giving back to them for supporting me. This is really a blessing to me!” 

A last requirement for her to become a full-fledged midwife is to undergo a training on Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC), which she will soon take. Once she has the training she will serve as the full-time midwife at the birthing facility in Sitio Gawasan, which was established through the initiative of the tribal leaders and the support of the IPMNCHN Project. 

She works alongside the village midwife in assisting deliveries at the Rural Health Unit, the town's main health facility. "I can't wait to deliver babies on my own but for now, this is a good training ground for me to learn further on the proper way to deliver babies and care for both mother and child."

The Arumanen Manobo, sometimes referred to as “people of the river,” are indigenous inhabitants of Carmen and surrounding areas of North Cotabato, which has a total population of 86,626. Carmen, North Cotabato is one offive project sites of the IPMNCHN Project.

Aside from Jowena, the IPMNCHN project sponsored two other review scholars for the November 2014 Midwifery Board Exam. The two others also passed and are now serving as midwives in their own communities.