b'AROUND THE WORLD | THE IRELAND FUND OF SINGAPORE1 2The Singapore Ireland Fund celebrates St Patricks Daywith the Down Syndrome Association of SingaporeMARCH, 2012 Singapore and Ireland have a long history of cultural ties and close relations since the 1 Members of the Down Syndrome Association, Sponsored by early 1800s. Countless Singaporeans have been educated by Irish teachers in Singapore, or throughThe Singapore Ireland Fund, perform at the Singapore universities in Ireland. The Singapore Ireland Fund is dedicated to using its powerful network to support St Patricks Day Parade2 Irish Minister of Public aims which strengthen The Singapore Ireland relationship and causes which honor the common AsianExpenditure, Mr Brendan Howlin greets the crowds with and Irish values of education, cultural and community relations. Since its incorporation in 2009, The Ms Monica Lim, Chairperson of Down Syndrome Association Singapore Ireland Fund (SIF) has met and surpassed its fund raising targets every year, raising more thanSingapore and members of the organizing group, watched over S$1.5 million to date. Projects have included the Irish Chamber Orchestras trip to Singapore in June 2010by Dr Balbir Singh, founding member & advisor to Down where they worked with Singapores Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports to promote music as a toolSyndrome Association (Singapore), who took the role for community engagement. The SIF has sponsored a Singaporean Scholar to study this subject in of St Patrick for this special day.Limerick in 2012. The Singapore Ireland Fund donated S$200,000 in 2011 to fund the establishment of anew 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 goalof achieving increased self-esteem and social integration by way of creative expression, and enhancingtheir quality of life. The Down Syndrome Association of Singapore is developing ties with their counterpartsat DSA Ireland to share experience on enrichment programmes, and is now working closely with variousIrish groups in Singapore. Members and friends of Down Syndrome Association (Singapore) celebratedWorld Down Syndrome Day 2012 by joining the St Patricks Day Parade on Sunday 18 March. The paradeis South East Asias only St Patricks Day Parade and drew a crowd of over 3,000 festively-dressed revellersdespite a heavy downpour. Guests-of-Honour for the event were Mr Sam Tan, Singapores Senior ParliamentarySecretaryforCommunityDevelopment,YouthandSports,andForeignAffairs,and Mr Brendan Howlin, the Irish Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. connect2012 | 120'