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Gulliver Prep senior Sophia Podrog has started a non-profit that empowers women through martial arts called EWMA.
She’s been doing martial arts since she was two. She is currently a first-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Her program is run through South Miami Martial Arts.
“It takes a lot of mental strength and endurance,” she says. “Doing the black belt and other belt tests, it’s a long day, where you have to push yourself. You’re working past barriers that you are trying to achieve.”
Her dad got her started in martial arts.
“He wanted my sister and I to be able to defend ourselves and have confidence,” she says.
“There was a point where my parents asked if I wanted to keep on doing it. I always wanted to stay. It helps me push myself, to be the strongest I can be mentally and physically.”
She started the non-profit with her sister.
“We wanted to give back and raise scholarships to underserved girls and women who want to pursue martials arts but don’t have the funds to do so,” she says.
The first scholarship winner was about to test for her fifth-degree black belt.
“She got laid off a few weeks before she was going to test and she didn’t have enough money to complete the test,” she says.
They try to give out at least one scholarship a year.
“I’m dedicated to social advocacy, especial feminism,” she says.
She also teaches self-defense with escape techniques.
At school, she’s president of P.O.W.E.R, a women’s equal rights club.
“We have monthly meetings and discussions surrounding feminism and improving women’s rights,” she says. “We recently did a fundraiser for Lotus House where we donated menstrual products.”
The club has ideas for Women’s History Month in March.
“We have plans for fundraisers and to donate to Lotus House,” she says. “We are also trying to do a memorial service for the Iranian women, as part of the celebration for the month. The theme this year is to have women tell their story.”
She’s part of the Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coalition.
“We present DEI initiatives to administrators and discuss issues on equality, identity and social advocacy and how to better the school community itself,” she says.
Podrog is captain of the Gulliver World Schools Debate Team, a type of debate that is a combination of prepared and impromptu rounds.
She’s a member of the National Honor Society, the National Art Honor Society, the National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and the Science National Honor Society.
She’s also active in Charitable Arts. She goes to CARE elementary to teach art to underserved children after school.
She participates in Achieve Miami, volunteering at Caribbean K-8. She used to trek down to Homestead to work with kids at Coconut Palm Elementary School.
“The first time I was there, I was paired with a little boy,” she says. “He was so excited that they had a Superman book. Even though it was way above his reading level, he wanted to read the book. He sounded out the words, and he was able to read it. He was so excited that he got to do it. We do reading and writing with them. We did tag and played soccer. That was a really good experience.”
On another occasion, she was paired with twins.
“They didn’t speak much English,’ she says. “They were excited to read.”
Next year. She’ll focus her education at Yale. She expects to double major in Anthropology and Gender Studies.
Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld
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