Ms Belina Lee, Deputy Ceo of Mandai Wildlife Group
Mr Jeremy Soo, Head, Consumer Banking Group, DBS Singapore
Distinguished guests
Park rangers and our Super Ranger buddies
1. A very good morning. I have not been to KidzWorld since it reopened but it is a really beautiful and fantastic place. When most of you were young toddlers running around, I am sure you remember the water parks that existed here as well as the petting zoo. Much has changed and transformed. How fast time has passed by and right now you are much older, and there is so much more that Mandai Wildlife has to offer.
2. Firstly, I would like to thank Mandai Wildlife for the pleasure of inviting me and hosting this event with POSB bank. In a world where there are a lot of economic decisions that shape our lives, it is essential to equip our students with financial literacy skills. A key highlight of today's partnership is the financial literacy trail here at KidzWorld, where students will learn about financial concepts and fun facts of animals while interacting with them.
3. Financial literacy is the foundation upon which students can build secure and prosperous futures. It empowers them to make informed decisions about saving, spending, and investing. These skills are not innate; they must be taught, practised, and reinforced.
4. Many adults today face financial stress such as debt and inadequate savings. By inculcating financial literacy in our students from young, we can help the next generation avoid these pitfalls and equip them with the resources and knowledge to save, budget, and plan effectively for the future. This will create a positive ripple effect across our society and benefit both individuals and communities.
5. If we look at the POSB badge, it has the POSB squirrel, and squirrels have a unique characteristic – nuts are their currency and during more temperate conditions, they spend their lifetime eating and saving at the same time. They save by harvesting fruits and keeping them aside for contingencies and cold weather when there is no access to food. They will then access their stash to continue to survive. Squirrels do not live long; their lifespan is between 10 and 20 years, so they must consistently store up food every year. This is to ensure not just their longevity, but also that of their families and future generations.
6. That is why all of us here today are taking the time to ensure that everyone knows how to save. We are not focusing solely on economic values, but integrating the concept of saving with the zoo. As you know, the zoo's wildlife and ecosystems are fragile and endangered today. Many of the things that we interact with, the food and lifestyles that we have, as well as the air that we breathe and the water that we drink – it is all about saving and taking care of our ecosystems.
7. I am very happy that POSB and Mandai are not just coming together to bring economic value and financial literacy and to strengthen the futures of communities, but also to take care of our ecosystems and planet. You are our future, so I know that you are taking this seriously while leading the way as ambassadors and champions. When school reopens, please share your experience on how you save and take care of the environment like the squirrels, and how much you have learnt about the beauty of the animals here. I hope you can encourage your friends to join in in this journey of doing well and right for our community.
8. And with that, thank you very much once again for having me here.