97,000 Namibian Dollars and a Broken Plate

Over the past few years, I’ve developed a deep interest in travel, which led me to take advantage of every resource available through the University of Wyoming’s Education Abroad Office. After spending the spring 2025 semester in London, I discovered a passion for experiencing new cultures, foods and people.

While I was completing my minor in public relations, Professor Cindy Price Schultz became a vital resource both inside and outside the classroom. She strongly encouraged me to participate in a faculty-led, two-week program in Namibia. The program would give us an opportunity to work alongside the Cheetah Conservation Fund, using our communications, public relations, event-planning and fundraising experience to support the organization’s mission.

Throughout the spring semester, I worked with a team of students to plan a fundraising event for CCF. What eventually became the overwhelmingly successful Run Like a Cheetah 5K began with a simple goal: to raise at least $2,000 to support CCF’s staff and ongoing projects. The funds would help cover the costs of caring for and rehabilitating cheetahs that could not be released back into the wild.

In the end, we raised $6,000 USD. But we would not understand the fundraiser’s true impact until May, when we arrived in Namibia and presented CCF with items purchased using the funds.

The people we met helped us realize just how much of a difference more than 97,000 Namibian dollars could make. For example, When I was at CCF, I met Winnie Skrywer, Tjipena “Mike” Tuuandi, and Celophas Shatipamba, who work in hospitality and tourism at CCF.

Winnie balances numerous responsibilities and quickly became a warm, familiar face. Whether she was greeting guests at reception, serving the best ice cream and cheese toast you’ve ever had in the café, or sharing the beauty of CCF as a lodge host and tour guide, she reminded me of the true value of travel: the connections we form with people along the way.

Some people blend into the background amid the commotion and excitement of constant exploration. Others immediately stand out and your interactions with them begin to resemble those of close, longtime friends. Amid the steady flow of new tourists, small tasks can quickly pile up, and sometimes an extra pair of hands makes all the difference. During our time at CCF, I realized that I could step in and help whenever possible.

So, whenever we had a free moment, I washed dishes, assisted customers, and took on my personal favorite task – serving ice cream. Through my time in the café, I had the pleasure of meeting the people whose work ensured that this important part of CCF ran smoothly.

As I scraped and washed dishes, we stood together in a circle, sharing stories about our lives back home, our families and our interests. We laughed when parts of our stories overlapped, revealing common threads across our different lives. Then we shared a brief moment of alarm when I dropped a plate, which Wilma Immanuel, the cook, promptly swept away. “It happens all the time,” she said reassuringly with a smile.

What I witnessed in this group of employees embodied the spirit of CCF. They showed me what a team can become when its members genuinely connect with the values behind their work. Many proudly wear merchandise displaying the CCF logo, which is also sold in the gift shop at the center of the organization’s activities.

At some organizations, wearing the T-shirt may be the only thing that makes someone feel part of the team and its mission. At CCF, however, anyone who holds its values dear is graciously welcomed with open arms. Team members such as Winnie, Tjipena, and Celophas clearly take genuine joy in their work, but it is their sense of community that truly makes CCF a family.