Alumnus wins Social Action Award at Study UK Alumni Awards, Singapore
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University of Liverpool alumnus, Shalom Lim (BA Hons Criminology and Security 2021) has won the Social Action Award at the Study UK Alumni Awards in Singapore. Shalom's story is one of resilience, creativity, and unwavering dedication to advocacy and social change.
Growing up with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Shalom faced numerous challenges, including surgeries and mobility impairments. Despite losing the physical ability to draw and paint, Shalom's passion for art and resilience remained strong. During his undergraduate studies in Criminology and Security at the University of Liverpool, Shalom's perspective shifted profoundly.
After graduating, Shalom focused his energy on advocacy, driven by a passion for justice and inclusion shaped during their time in Liverpool. Returning to Singapore with renewed determination, Shalom became actively involved in the disability community. He served on the Board of Management at the Disabled People's Association (DPA) and collaborated with K9Assistance to expand access to assistance dogs for individuals and families with non-vision disabilities in Singapore. Shalom also became a patient columnist for Muscular Dystrophy News and began speaking at public events to share his experiences.
Shalom's impact has been profound; he has contributed to improving accessibility policies affecting thousands and through delivering talks has reached countless students and professionals across Singapore, changing attitudes toward disability. Shalom's storytelling projects, such as the poem Breaking the Fourth Wall presented at the Singapore Writers Festival and the children's book Callum's Courage, use art to break down social barriers and offer a window into the experience of living with a disability.
Winning awards such as the Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards 2023 (Promise) has validated Shalom's journey and encouraged others with disabilities to share their stories. Shalom measures success by the lives he has touched; by youths who see hope after hearing his talks, by audiences who rethink the meaning of inclusion, and by the many following conversations held within Singapore's social landscape.
Shalom says his time at Liverpool helped him to see his disability as a source of insight rather than a limitation. He said: “Studying at the University of Liverpool was transformational because of its inclusive, discussion-based environment. I was not simply a student but an active contributor.
"Professors encouraged us to connect experiences to our studies, which made me realise the value of my voice in advocacy. I could challenge the status quo with my unique viewpoint as a person with a disability. This is something I had not felt was possible before. The open-mindedness and creative problem-solving environment fostered at the UK campus is what set my education apart.”