Weymouth Resident Participates in Program Geared Towards Women’s Success

This summer, South Weymouth resident Kristen Canuto, a Simmons College student,  participated in a distinguished women’s leadership and development program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Canuto, a sophomore at Simmons, worked along with 20 African female students who hailed from Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and South Sudan, and four other Simmons students

Canuto spent five weeks in “The Study of the U.S. Institute on Women’s Leadership,” an academic program designed to promote a better understanding of the U.S. abroad, while helping develop future world leaders with an emphasis on women’s leadership and success, according to Simmons.

Her summer was filled with leadership training and community service, accompanied by an educational trip to Atlanta and Washington D.C.

She said her favorite moments involved dancing to classic and upbeat African music that reminded the students of home.

“WCFL seemed like a wonderful opportunity to meet new members of the Simmons community and learn from bright and inspirational African students,” she said. “I enjoy getting to explore other cultures and lifestyles through others so this program felt like a great chance to do so.”

The Weymouth resident said she was able to create friendships with people beyond Boston, gain self-confidence through teamwork and public speaking, and understand the significance of voicing my opinion.

“This experience has allowed me to build my character and become an even stronger, more effective leader than I was before,” she said.