Scholarship Application Letter Midwife in Brazil Brasília – Free Word Template Download with AI

Ana Carolina Mendes

Rua das Palmeiras, nº 456

Asa Sul, Brasília - DF, CEP 70301-900

Brazil

October 26, 2023

Scholarship Committee
Faculdade de Saúde Pública
Universidade de Brasília (UnB)
Campus Darcy Ribeiro
Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil

Dear Scholarship Committee,

I am writing this Scholarship Application Letter with profound enthusiasm to apply for the full scholarship opportunity to pursue my Bachelor of Science in Midwifery at the prestigious Faculdade de Saúde Pública at Universidade de Brasília (UnB). As a dedicated health professional from the heart of Brazil, I have chosen Brazil Brasília as the epicenter for my academic and community development journey. My aspiration to become a compassionate, evidence-based Midwife has been shaped by years of service in underserved communities across the Federal District, where I witnessed firsthand how accessible maternal care can transform entire generations.

Growing up in a low-income neighborhood near Parque da Cidade in Brasília, I observed my mother—then an auxiliary nurse—dedicate herself to supporting pregnant women without proper medical resources. At 17, I began volunteering with the local Health Post (PSF) at Paranoá, assisting with prenatal check-ups and childbirth education for families living near the highway interchanges. These experiences revealed a critical gap: while Brazil has made remarkable strides in public health through its Unified Health System (SUS), rural and urban periphery communities in Brazil Brasília still face severe shortages of specialized midwifery care. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Health’s 2022 report, only 43% of municipalities in the Federal District have sufficient midwife coverage—leaving countless women without culturally competent, woman-centered care during one of life's most vulnerable moments.

My commitment deepened when I worked as a community health agent for two years with the Brasília Municipal Health Department. In this role, I traveled to informal settlements like Parque das Laranjeiras and São Francisco de Paula, where I documented how lack of midwifery services led to avoidable complications: 32% of pregnant women in these areas experienced delayed care due to transportation barriers, and emergency cesarean sections were often performed without adequate prenatal screening. This data became my academic catalyst—I enrolled in UnB's pre-med program at age 20, but realized my true calling required specialized midwifery training. The UnB Midwifery Program stands out as Brazil’s only fully accredited program integrating community-based practice with the latest obstetric evidence, and its location in Brazil Brasília is strategic for addressing regional health inequities.

The scholarship I seek would enable me to complete my academic journey without financial burden while allowing me to maximize service hours at UnB's fieldwork sites. During my pre-clinical year, I collaborated with the university’s Center for Women’s Health (CEPAS) on a research project analyzing maternal mortality rates across Brasília’s 31 administrative regions. Our findings showed that neighborhoods with active midwifery partnerships had 58% lower emergency admissions for hypertensive disorders—a statistic I hope to advance through my future practice. As a Midwife, I intend to establish a mobile clinic model replicating the successful "Saúde na Rua" program in Salvador, but adapted for Brasília’s unique geography: using electric scooters to reach favelas in Taguatinga and Santa Maria, where public transport is inadequate after dark.

UnB’s curriculum uniquely prepares students like me to address Brazil’s health challenges. The mandatory 1200-hour clinical rotation at SUS facilities across the Federal District—including Hospital Regional de Brasília and Maternidade de Santa Genoveva—will immerse me in diverse maternal care contexts. I am particularly eager to study under Prof. Dr. Lúcia Souza, whose pioneering work on reducing neonatal mortality in quilombola communities aligns with my vision for culturally safe midwifery. Her research on integrating indigenous knowledge with biomedical practices (as demonstrated in her 2021 paper "Midwives as Cultural Bridges") inspires me to develop similar protocols for Afro-Brazilian and indigenous populations in Brasília’s expanding periphery.

My academic journey has been marked by resilience. As a first-generation university student from a family of domestic workers, I’ve balanced night shifts at the Hospital de Base with studies, earning a 3.9 GPA in my pre-med courses. I also co-founded "Mães em Ação," a volunteer collective training community women as birth companions—a role that honed my leadership while directly serving over 200 families in Taguatinga Norte. This initiative received recognition from the Brasília City Council for improving prenatal adherence by 41% in participating households, proving that grassroots action can precede systemic change.

Why now? Brazil’s National Policy on Humanization of Birth (PNH) mandates that 75% of births should be attended by midwives by 2030. Yet currently, only 48% of births in the Federal District occur in facilities with certified midwifery support (Ministry of Health, 2023). I intend to become part of the solution—not through theoretical knowledge alone, but through the practical wisdom gained at UnB. Completing this program will position me to advocate for policy changes within SUS and establish a community-based midwifery hub in Ceilândia, where maternal mortality rates exceed national averages by 27%. As a Midwife, I will not just deliver babies—I’ll empower mothers with choices, dignity, and the knowledge that their bodies are understood within Brazil’s rich cultural tapestry.

I understand that this scholarship represents more than tuition coverage; it is an investment in transforming maternal healthcare across Brazil Brasília. I pledge to honor this trust through rigorous academic pursuit, active community engagement, and measurable impact. Upon graduation, I will serve in the SUS network as a midwife specialist for 5 years before pursuing a master’s degree focused on reproductive justice—ensuring my training directly benefits the most vulnerable women of our nation.

Thank you for considering my Scholarship Application Letter. I welcome the opportunity to discuss how my vision aligns with UnB’s mission and Brazil’s healthcare future. I have attached all required documents, including academic transcripts, letters of recommendation from Prof. Carlos Silva (UnB pre-med coordinator) and Maria Aparecida dos Santos (Director of Municipal Health Post PSF-45), and a detailed project proposal for my proposed midwifery outreach program.

Sincerely,

Ana Carolina Mendes

Student ID: UNB2023-MIDWIFE-1478

Word Count: 847

Scholarship Application Letter | Midwife | Brazil Brasília

⬇️ Download as DOCX Edit online as DOCX