Being Rich Is...?

Our societies work in silos.

When it comes to wealth and opportunities, people tend to stay wherever they are born on the wealth spectrum. What's more, there is also a deep disconnect between the perception of inequality among the groups at the two ends of the spectrum. We believe in the power of collaboration. All the Wealth Inequality Initiative projects see wealthy and non-wealthy groups involved in developing sustainable solutions to bridge the wealth and opportunities gap. They come together and work hand in hand to achieve the common goal they defined.

In the Perspectives series, we’ve asked wealthy and non-wealthy individuals involved in our projects for their personal view on some essential aspects of life: health, happiness, dreams... and what they have learnt through the shared work. Are they still so disconnected? Are their views really conflicting?

It turns out that, when it comes to the fundamentals of life, we are probably much closer than we think.

In Perspectives #1, Esther Katjohange and Oliver Rust touch on some key aspects of life, including what 'being rich is'.

About

Esther

Katjohange

Esther Katjohange is a farm worker at Jojoba for Namibia.

Esther was born in the town of Outjo, then moved to Windhoek where she started working at the Ondekaremba travel lodge. Here she met Oliver Rust, who at that time was running the resort.

As Oliver began to nurture the idea of developing the Namib Desert Jojoba Oil Producers (NDJ) project, Esther joined the team. She quickly learnt about jojoba farming and processing techniques. She is now building up her know-how on the special cosmetic properties of jojoba oil and acquiring the business skills she will need to develop commercial relationships with international buyers. From being financially dependent on her husband, Esther quickly managed to become totally self-sufficient, confident and able to plan a future for herself and her children.

About

Oliver

Rust

Oliver Rust was born in Namibia and grew up on a cattle farm. He finished his school with a Matrik certificate in 1992. Between 1992 and 1995 he completed an apprenticeship in Germany as a chef, followed by 2 years working in Switzerland in the hospitality industry.

In 1997 Oliver returned to Namibia, where he established a lodge.

In 2011 he and his family moved to a farm in the Namib desert, establishing a small lodge there.

Oliver founded the first plant oil production company in 2017, establishing the Jojoba for Namibia Trust later in the same year.

In 2018, together with other partners, he founded Namib Desert Oils UG, a company in Germany which aims to create a market for the plant oil produced in Namibia.

Oliver is married to Verena and they have two daughters.

About Namib Desert Jojoba Oil Producers

See how Namib Desert Jojoba Oil Producers (NDJ) and the Julius Baer Foundation are taking a stance to tackle wealth inequality in Namibia through upskilling and sustainable farming.

Learn More