BY Selma Neshiko
Young entrepreneur Kores Gaeseb is a young man with a passion for art. Gaeseb was raised by both his parents in Katutura who were teachers and had high expectations for him. The second born of four siblings he started schooling at Peoples Primary School where he first won his first two competitions, which was the world child art competition to preserve nature.
He represented his school in various competitions and was granted the opportunity to join Culture in the Neighbourhood project through which he was mentored by the likes of Papa Ndasunye Shikongeni (Hisishi Papa) and many others greats. In high school Gaeseb started working to help his family by doing wall art on supermarkets like Mini Shop Friendly in Soweto, Step By Step Pre-Primary and various others instances. “My God-given talent was being very useful. My life has never been bread and butter, I have strived to where I am today,” he says.
Gaeseb got his first holiday job at the Trade Centre, Now Metro Hyper, when he was in Grade 9 and through his high school years he took part in national athletics and soccer and the guidance of the likes of Quinton Steel Botes, Agnes Samaria, Seth Boois, Brian Isaaks and Frank Frederik. “These people remain my inspiration to date,” he affirms. In 2004, Gaeseb was chosen as the ambassador to represent his school, Cosmos High School, in the ‘Namibia Finland Summer High School Programme’ and later in 2005 they asked him to return as an art facilitator.
After high school, Gaeseb furthered his studies in Information Technology (Software Development) at the Polytechnic of Namibia and also enrolled for education at the Windhoek College of Education where he majored in artistic subjects such as music, drama and visual arts.
Gaeseb also has a passion for children, which led him to start a youth club called ‘Namibian Youth Environmental Club’ together with a close friend. He later joined Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust (NaDEET) as an assistant centre facilitator, educator and also did community development.
“In my life I have come across many obstacles. Everything I am today is through trials and tribulations, it wasn’t easy. I spend most of my holidays with my grandparents, they have been very instrumental in my life as I was growing up, they have taught me so much,” says Gaeseb.
Gaeseb is currently running a couple of businesses, some of which are in partnerships and one of his own, namely Purple Apple Investments, which specialises in Advertising, I.T solutions, Road Construction, General Construction, Catering and Media.
“I have signed a couple of artists along the way, helping some shoot videos, song writing and I also have produced for plenty. I wanted to give back to the community because I was raised in a home of giving. Both my parents and grandparents have raised children that are not their own. With that I started a foundation called The PurpleApple Foundation. My dream is to one day build a recreational facility for all vulnerable children and families,” he visualises.
“Anything is possible in this life. Stop viewing your dreams from just behind your eye lid and start living them. If your dreams don’t scare you then your dreams are not big enough. And one thing that has kept me going in this life is prayer. Move in faith.” Gaeseb says.
Gaeseb is currently running a soup kitchen with his mother in the Otjomuise informal settlement and a day care centre. He is also part of a community development project in the same location called Tabernacle Life Change Centre that offer counselling, food, teachings on personal hygiene and prayers. He calls on anyone who want life coaching, entrepreneurial consultations or just someone to talk to, to email him at gaesebk@gmail.com or search for Kores Jose Gaeseb on facebook, Kores_Jose twitter.