The Singapore Ireland Fund Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day
with The Down Syndrome Association of Singapore
Singapore and Ireland have a long history of cultural ties and close relations since the early 1800s. Countless Singaporeans have been educated by Irish teachers in Singapore, or through universities in Ireland.
The Singapore Ireland Fund is dedicated to using its powerful network to support aims which strengthen the Singapore Ireland relationship and causes which honor the common Asian and Irish values of education, cultural and community relations.
Since its incorporation in 2009, the Singapore Ireland Fund (SIF) has met and surpassed its fund raising targets every year, raising more than S$1.5 million to date. Projects have included the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s trip to Singapore in June 2010 where they worked with Singapore’s Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports to promote music as a tool for community engagement. The SIF has sponsored a Singaporean Scholar to study this subject in Limerick in 2012.
The Singapore Ireland Fund donated S$200,000 in 2011 to fund the establishment of a new enrichment Centre for the Down Syndrome Association (Singapore). The new Centre is now under construction, and will promote `growth’ and development of the person with Down syndrome, with the goal of achieving increased self-esteem and social integration by way of creative expression, and enhancing their quality of life. The Down Syndrome Association of Singapore is developing ties with their counterparts at DSA Ireland to share experience on enrichment programmes, and is now working closely with various Irish groups in Singapore.
Members and friends of Down Syndrome Association (Singapore) celebrated World Down Syndrome Day 2012 by joining the St Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday 18 March.
The parade is South East Asia’s only St Patrick’s Day Parade and drew a crowd of over 3,000 festively-dressed revellers despite a heavy downpour.
Guests-of-Honour for the event were Mr. Sam Tan, Singapore’s Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Brendan Howlin, the Irish Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
