January 2000
As a child, Simantoi was only able to attend school for one-third of each year because her mother could not pay all the school fees and her father, who was adamantly opposed to educating girls, would not contribute. Simantoi’s father demanded that she marry when she completed primary school. When she refused, her father did not speak to her again until she graduated from medical college and began working as a nurse. Simantoi now contributes 17% of her monthly income to her family. Simantoi continued her education after completing her nursing studies and in 2010, graduated from the University of Nairobi in with a degree in psychology. Simantoi is currently employed as an HIV counselor at Jomo Kenyatta Hospital in Nairobi. In 2013, Simantoi was hired to facilitate MGEF’s Life Skills Workshops for girls.
Date of Birth: 01/01/1982
Start Grade: 12th Grade (Form 4)
Current Grade: Graduated 2010 – Degree in Nursing
School: University of Nairobi, Psychology; Kenya Medical Training College, Nursing