Meet Kerene

Kerene Kizyala is a RISE AmeriCorps Member serving with EMBARC in Waterloo.

Originally from Zambia, Kerene grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from high school in 2017 and earned her A.A. degree from Kirkwood Community College in 2019. She’s currently enrolled in a four-year university for a bachelor’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) with a certificate in French and Linguistic Studies. 

“I joined this program because I've always wanted to work with refugees in terms of helping them. Now, since I got the opportunity to be part of this community, it is such an honor for me. During my service, my main goal is to create a positive impact on the people around me and help people in my community.”

Kerene has always been interested in reading, writing, and learning new languages. During her free time, she also paints and rides her skateboard.