Educational expert Sofie van de Waart from Prinsenbeek is the winner of the national Woman in the Media Award 2023. She is committed to better education, especially for gifted students. The prize was awarded on Friday evening in Hilversum and the title surprised her enormously. “It’s really amazing, I feel so honored.”
The Woman in the Media Award aims to encourage female experts and role models to be visible in the media. But also encourage editors to offer them that platform more often. The prize is therefore also awarded on International Women’s Day.
Van de Waart thinks that message is very important. “But a fifth of experts in the media are women. That is really too few, women have to stand up,” she says. The teacher therefore also took her daughter with her to the ceremony. “I want her to see how many strong and knowledgeable women there are and that we need to stand up for each other.”
“I already texted the people at home that I would not win.”
She did not expect at all that she would win the prize herself on Friday. “When I arrived, I was placed in row three,” says Sofie. “I therefore immediately texted the home front that I would not win, because I was only sitting in the third row. That was a good diversionary maneuver by the organization.”
An hour after her win, Sofie van de Waart is still overwhelmed and very enthusiastic. “You are there with so many great people. Inspiring women who work very hard, but apparently I still made an impression with my work. I feel so honored,” she says cheerfully. In February, the educational expert already won the regional prize, Woman in the Media Award North Brabant.
“Inspiring, refreshing and a huge go-getter.”
The jury unanimously chose Van de Waart because she is committed to equal opportunities for children in education, especially gifted children. “She has an important message and conveys it enthusiastically and persistently,” is the jury’s comment.
The jury also likes how she has put herself on the map, including with the documentary ‘The Utopia of Miss Sofie’ at Omroep Max. “She is seen by voters as a bridge builder who does not let obstacles deter her. Inspiring, refreshing and a huge go-getter.”
In that documentary, Sofie started a class to educate gifted children at their own level. “I write columns for Trouw and I sometimes receive a few emails, but after this broadcast I received thousands of responses,” says Sofie. “People recognized what I do and felt supported.”
“There is still a long way to go.”
According to her, the lack of guidance for gifted people is a serious problem. The children are now often considered difficult or are labeled ADHD. “Giftedness is now often seen as an elitist problem, but they simply need appropriate education. There is still a long way to go.”
She hopes that her prize will allow her to tell her story even more often. “My phone is ringing off the hook and I have already been warned by last year’s winner that a lot is coming my way. But I am now going out for dinner to celebrate the title and relax,” she said on Friday.
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Miss Sofie previously won the regional Woman in the Media Award
