Allexer Namundjebo
At 29, Johachim Kotze is a boiler operator at Gobabis District Hospital, working under the ministry of health and social services.
His path to this role was not easy.
Kotze was born to a Nama mother and a San (Ju/’hoansi) father, two of Namibia’s historically marginalised groups. He grew up in Epako location, Gobabis, where poverty and unemployment are common.
He completed Grade 12 at Epako High School in 2015. Life after school was tough. “Both of my parents are unemployed.
There was no stable income, so I had to hustle, selling anything I could, just to survive,” he said in an interview with youth empowerment organisation Palms for Life.
With limited skills, Kotze started making cupboards, hoping one day to receive formal technical training.
That opportunity came in 2021 when Palms for Life awarded him a scholarship through its programme for youth from marginalised communities.
He enrolled in a Joinery and Cabinet Making course at the Community Skills Development Foundation (COSDEF) campus in Gobabis and completed it in 2024.
“I’m very grateful to Palms for Life. They paid for my tuition and accommodation. Without their support, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity,” Kotze said.
After graduating, he launched a small furniture business. His craftsmanship drew attention.
In October 2024, he was mentored by Uakii Wilderness Safaris, an experience that expanded his business knowledge.
In April 2025, Kotze secured employment as a boiler operator at the Gobabis District Hospital. He now manages steam and hot water systems that are essential to hospital operations.
Kotze is one of 1,200 youth supported by Palms for Life to access vocational training through COSDEF campuses in Namibia. The programme equips young people with practical skills in tourism, hospitality, and technical trades.
“I come from a mixed heritage, and I come from struggle, but that didn’t stop me. I now have a career, a business, and hope,” he said.
