Hot on the heels of Usain Bolt, who recently adopted “Lightning”, a cheetah cub in Kenya, Windhoek International School has adopted “Cheetah” and “Cub” as the names of their soccer teams in support of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, an NGO based in Namibia.
The name changes were announced as part of a presentation to the school on Tuesday 10 November by Dr. Laurie Marker, Founder and Director of Cheetah Conservation Fund, along with Dr. Anne Schmidt-Kuentzel, CCF geneticists.
The school’s decision to christen the boys’ team the Cubs and the girls team the Cheetahs was part of its effort to support the Otjiwarongo-based organisation whose Bush project has been chosen as one of the finalists in the BBC’s World Challenge 2009, a global competition aimed at projects showing enterprise and innovation at grassroots levels. The Cheetahs and the Cubs will play in the upcoming Windhoek International Sports Tournament, which will take place on 27 – 29 November.
The NGO has been in existence since 1990 under the leadership of Dr Laurie Marker and the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Sam Nujoma. Its mission is to be an internationally recognised centre of excellence in research and education on cheetahs and their eco-systems – the largest and healthiest population of which can be found in Namibia.
The CCF Bush programme intends to restore bush-encroached farmland and wildlife habitat by finding large-scale alternative uses for the invasive woody bush that is choking grass savannahs in Africa, such as the manufacture of Bushblok, a clean-burning fuel log currently being sold in various countries around the world. Clearing invasive bush helps restore Namibian savannah to its original state and improves the habitat for both the cheetah and its prey.  
Dr Marker said that she was pleased that the International School was adding its support to the Cheetah Conservation Fund. “We have an international reach and cheetah projects in Botswana, Kenya, South Africa and Iran, but our base is in Namibia so we are pleased to partner with the Windhoek International School. Educating youngsters about Cheetah conservation is part of our mission and an integral part of the survival of the species.”
Secondary Principal and acting Director, Maureen Rainey, stated that she was delighted that the school was able to try to help such a worthy foundation, “Cheetahs are such beautiful animals and as Namibians we have a duty to try to preserve both our natural and cultural heritage.