Launch of Mapletree's support for NUS Communities and Engagement Pillar

Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman, Mapletree Investments,

Professor Aaron Thean, Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, NUS,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Seniors from AAC,

Students and lecturers from NUS,

Empowering Communities Together

1. It is my great pleasure to join you today to mark Mapletree’s support for the National University of Singapore’s Communities and Engagement Pillar. Through Mapletree’s generous S$3 million endowed gift, we are collectively empowering students to serve with empathy, to build connections and to strengthen communities.

2. Through this partnership, NUS will be able to turbocharge their service-learning journey. In fact, NUS will empower more than 4,000 student volunteers each year to uplift more than 60,000 beneficiaries. If students do not have an avenue to give back, they may spend it on studies or screen time. Instead, spending time with seniors in the AAC will give meaning to the saying that “It’s in giving that we receive”. Oftentimes when we are giving back, we are receiving so much more.

3. 4,000 student volunteers and 60,000 beneficiaries – each number represents a life touched, a bond formed and a community made stronger. With Mapletree’s support, service-learning programmes will be further enriched. Students will be able to make deeper connections with those they serve. They will be able to support vulnerable families and create more opportunities for seniors to age well in their own homes, just like what Prime Minister Lawrence Wong mentioned at the National Day Rally – age well, live well.

Building a Caring and Connected Singapore

4. These efforts embody our vision under the Forward Singapore initiative which Prime Minister Lawrence Wong started more than two years ago – to build a vibrant, fair, and resilient society. Strong families and communities are the foundation of our nation.

5. As we come together today, it also gives meaning to what makes Singapore so special. We have a corporation that is very successful; an Institute of Higher Learning that is doing very well, not just in international ranking, but also trains students’ minds and nurture their hearts; and an Active Ageing Centre (AAC). All of this comes together to show what makes Singapore very special in this SG60 year. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also talked about the 3 “Cs” - Care, Connect and Contribute - which both Mapletree and NUS exemplify.

6. In our Forward SG conversations, Singaporeans expressed a shared aspiration: a society where ground-up efforts thrive, and where giving back does not only happen once a year, but becomes a way of life and our DNA.

7. At the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, we believe everyone has a role – regardless of our socioeconomic background and our age – to play in strengthening our social fabric. Together, we can build a more caring, cohesive, and inclusive Singapore.

8. As Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reminded us at the National Day Rally, all of us have a role to play to work towards a “we-first” society. “We-first” instead of “me-first”.

9. In today’s world if you read the newspapers or scan the headlines from social media, it may bring a lot of pessimism. However, in Singapore, I think we can see it as a half-glass full because of this interesting combination where companies give back and universities doing more for our students to embark on service learning, bringing about “we-first” where each and every one of us put “we” instead of “me” first.

Nurturing Future Leaders, Together

10. Today’s partnership between Mapletree and NUS reflects this spirit of collaboration. It shows how government, community and corporate partners can work hand in hand to uplift lives together.

11. I am very heartened and encouraged to see that NUS’s programmes provide opportunities to nurture socially conscious graduates. Each and every one of you are outstanding youths who have not only excelled in school, but also lead with heart and empathy to give back to society.

    1. That is why service-learning is so important. Service-learning takes students beyond the classroom, where learning is shaped by real-life experiences and the stories of the people you meet and serve.

    2. To our student volunteers – thank you for stepping forward to serve and lead. Your actions and time devoted to service-learning have inspired many others and encourage more Singaporeans to help build a kinder, stronger Singapore.

12. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank NUS for your efforts over the years in nurturing the next generation of civic leaders. And to Mapletree, thank you for your generous support and sharing our belief that a stronger Singapore is built when each of us contributes to the wider community.

13. We hope that many more individuals, corporates and organisations will follow your footsteps. Together, we can build bridges, deepen connections, and invest in what truly matters – our people, our values and Singapore’s shared future.

14. Thank you.