My name is Simkasa Kisola Laza, I am 19 years old and I live in Dzaleka Camp with my sister and brother in-law. 

Dzaleka is a place whereby a lot of people from different nations and cultures live together, creating a coexistence amongst themselves. There are a lot of languages spoken and it is a place where there is a spirit of resilience and a place where we look for survival. It is a wonderful place where a lot of cultures are expressed. 

Simkasa at Dzaleka Refugee Camp

I want to be an electrical engineer, that’s what I aspire to be. When I started my secondary school education, it turns out that things to do with electricity and electronics inspire me. 

We have books about physics, biology, mathematics and much more in the library.  My favourite subject is physics, because it helps to explain things that are natural and real. It helps to explain everything that exists.

I come to the library three times a day to read. I come early in the morning, and from 10am to 11am, and then around 2pm up to the time they close the library. I read for fun as well as for studying. As well as academic books, I love novels because there are exciting stories. There are also a lot of things in novels, it even improves your living style. 

Simkasa using the library at Dzaleka Refugee Camp

Some of the books that are needed here are academic books, for example biology and physics books. We have them now, but they are few. So they should send more of these academic books. 

Book Aid International is doing a great job sending books because it allows other people like me to read them and get knowledge from the books. 

Photos (c) Book Aid International/TChikondi

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