CRISTIANO RONALDO ENCOURAGES YOUTH TO BRING THEIR SIUPER PASSION TO EXPLORE CAREERS THAT ADVANCE SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Makes special stop at Marsh Pulai Heritage Tree at Singapore Botanic Gardens, which was dedicated to Peter Lim (the “NParks – Peter Lim Tree”)
Singapore, 2nd June 2023 – World-famous football forward Cristiano Ronaldo was at the Singapore Botanic Gardens today in support of the NParks – Peter Lim Scholarship, as part of his fourth visit to the republic.
Cristiano Ronaldo first started his support for long-time friend Peter Lim’s series of scholarships over a decade ago. In 2020, philanthropist and entrepreneur Peter Lim pledged S$10 million, in partnership with NParks, to a scholarship for deserving youths to pursue careers in landscaping, horticulture, ecology, veterinary and animal science sectors. This remains the single largest donation by an individual to NParks.
Sustainability and protection of our natural environment are close to the heart of the football star, who became a firm supporter of the environmental cause more than 10 years ago, when he became the ambassador for the Mangrove Care Forum on his visit to Indonesia, also initiated by Peter Lim.
Homage to our natural environment
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner kicked off his visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens – the first and only tropical garden to be honoured as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – down the trail of the scenic Palm Valley accompanied by, Kiat Lim, Representative for Peter Lim and Lilin Wong, Mint Media Sports.
The highlight of his visit was a special stop at the NParks – Peter Lim Tree, which was dedicated to Mr Peter Lim for his outstanding contribution to advancing Singapore’s sustainability and environmental agenda through the Scholarship. This is one of ten heritage trees in the Gardens dedicated to individuals. The Marsh Pulai (also known as Pulai Basong) is a characteristic plant of freshwater swamp forests, and the NParks – Peter Lim Tree is an important remnant of the swamp forest that was known to have existed in the area before the Gardens was developed in 1859. It is also believed to be only one of 17 such mature trees of this species remaining in Singapore.
The Portuguese international footballer was greeted by 200 students from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), most of whom are recipients of the NParks-Peter Lim Scholarship, at the Heritage Tree where he shared with youths how everyone can #BeSIUPER if they were open to new learning experiences and focused their energy on advancing their goals.
His #BeSIUPER rally cry was especially appropriate: the NParks – Peter Lim Scholarship is an opportunity to help youths pursue careers that support the future of our natural environment and strengthen Singapore’s Green Plan 2023 commitments under UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda – a worthy pursuit to apply the SIUPER mindset and the SIUPER talents they will develop.
Cristiano Ronaldo ended his visit with a photo opportunity with the youths, all demonstrating their commitment to #BeSIUPER with a ‘SIUUU’ cry that echoed along the Gardens world-famous Heritage Trail.
Since its inception, 537 study awards worth S$1.3 million have been awarded to students from ITE, the Polytechnics, NAFA and local universities under the NParks – Peter Lim Scholarship. In fact, the first few batches of Scholarship recipients are already contributing back to Singapore’s natural environment: one a plant record officer with NParks, a budding horticulturalist at Ngee Ann Polytechnic and an avian veterinary nurse at Mandai Wildlife Reserve.
Other NParks and environmental support initiatives by Peter Lim
In 2018, Peter Lim donated S$900,000 over three years to build Therapeutic Gardens in Telok Blangah Hill Park, Punggol Waterway Park and Bedok Reservoir Park for the community to enjoy. These outdoor gardens are designed to meet the physical, psychological and social needs of the community.
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