Gaining Skills, Building Confidence

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By Press release submission

Feb 25, 2023

Claudette Kahambu only knew one person in the U.S. when she arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2019: a cousin who lived in Waterloo, Iowa.

“When I told her I’m going to come to the United States, she said, ‘Okay, you can come to Waterloo and stay with me’,” Kahambu recalls.

Her cousin, who immigrated in 2018 and worked as a French translator at Tyson Foods, had attended English classes through Hawkeye Community College. When Kahambu arrived, her cousin quickly told her to sign up.

Kahambu is one of hundreds of immigrants, refugees, and other English language learners who have taken classes through Hawkeye’s Adult Education and Literacy programs. Currently, more than 650 students are enrolled in English Language Learning (ELL) classes, representing 30 countries and 32 languages.

“The teachers are very, very nice — they are ready to help,” Kahambu said of her instructors at the Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center in downtown Waterloo. The center, which opened in January 2019, was funded in part by a bond referendum overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2015.

In addition to ELL classes, Kahambu began studying to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Through Hawkeye’s Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) programs, a basic skills instructor and a content instructor jointly design and teach college-level occupational classes for basic skills-level students. The basic skills instructors assist with English, math, and workforce preparation skills, while content instructors provide career skills.

“I enjoyed the practice the most,” Kahambu recalls. Part of CNA skills training includes working with mannequins to practice caring for patients; “They taught us how to take care of patients, taught us you need to be patient.”

Kahambu completed her training, earned three college credits, and passed her CNA exams. She now works for NewAldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls, caring for 16 patients and quickly becoming known as a talented, compassionate caregiver.

"At work they tell me I'm a good CNA," she said. "Even my residents tell me: 'You are the best.'"Kahambu loves her job, and plans to become a nurse through Hawkeye. While the accolades at work make her feel valued, Kahambu felt even more pride when she spoke to her parents back in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“When I told [my dad] I passed the CNA class, he said, ‘Oh, my daughter, I’m proud. I’m proud of you,” Kahambu recalls fondly. “My parents already told me I need to be strong, that I represent our family here. Yes, they are proud.”

Integrated Education and Training

Hawkeye's Integrated Education and Training programs are aimed to provide workplace skills and adult basic education to English Language Learners and High School Completion students so they can qualify for promotions or jobs in a high-demand industry.

At the end of these programs, students can take an examination and earn a certification in a specific area.