Race2Share, a Singapore-based sport-for-impact group recently celebrated a milestone as its all-FDW (Foreign Domestic Worker) women’s crew competed at the Penang International Dragon Boat Festival on November 23, 2024, the team’s first international dragon boat race.
In Singapore, Filipina foreign domestic workers made up a significant portion of the estimated 250,000 FDWs, who often face challenges such as long working hours, isolation, and limited opportunities for personal growth. Race2Share has worked tirelessly to address these challenges, creating a supportive space where FDWs can develop confidence, skills, and a sense of community through sport.
Photo: Race2Share
Race2Share was founded in 2016 by Jen Macapagal with the belief that sports could serve as a powerful platform for creating positive change. As an athlete and mentor for more than a decade, Jen has experienced the transformative benefits of sport and envisioned it as more than just a competitive pursuit—she saw it as a tool to empower individuals and uplift communities.
This vision led her to become a staunch sport-for-impact advocate. In 2017, Race2Share launched its first all-FDW (Foreign Domestic Worker) dragon boat team, and since then, its programs have expanded to benefit hundreds of migrant domestic workers in Singapore. Through collaborations with local and global organizations, Race2Share has consistently pushed the boundaries of what sport can achieve for this community.
Photo: Race2Share
Over the years, Race2Share has garnered significant recognition for its efforts. The organization was a nominee for the President’s Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards (PVPA) in Singapore in 2018, represented its mission on global platforms such as the UN Social Forum in Geneva, Switzerland in 2018 and the Asia Pacific Youth Sport Task Force in the Philippines and Seoul, South Korea and shortlisted for the Women of the Future Awards Southeast Asia in 2021. Additionally, it was a grant recipient of the UNESCO Bangkok Office –Task Force in 2020. These recognitions reflect Race2Share’s unwavering commitment to fostering confidence, equality, and community through sports.
The team’s debut in Penang, Malaysia was a testament to this mission. This event symbolized the power of resilience, teamwork, and the transformative impact of sports in empowering underrepresented communities.
Despite the demands of their daily manual labor, these women dedicated most of their free time to rigorous training, both on and off the water. Weeknights often involved strength training sessions, while weekends were reserved for intense dragon boat practices.
“All our hard work of land training and water training is worth it,” shared Jonna Menchavez, 51-year-old who hailed from Davao City and has been working in Singapore for 20 years. “Since becoming part of Race2Share, we have more confidence and belief in our potential. As a first-time paddler, racing internationally was a great experience. I am thankful for this community and lucky to have found such a supportive environment from the founder and coaches.”
This year, Race2Share was mentored by Princess Caraan, a seasoned Singapore-based dragon boat athlete with over a decade of experience. Taking a break from her national duties, Princess dedicated her time to mentoring the Race2Share team this year.
Princess has a deep connection to the sport, having served as the sole female member of the Technical Committee Board and Women’s Team Captain of the Philippine Alliance Dragon Boat Team (PADBT). Originally founded by the late Nick Fontanilla in 2016, PADBT is a diverse team led by Chairman Marcia Cristobal, comprising paddlers from various countries, including the Philippines, the United States, Canada, Singapore, Qatar, and the UAE. PADBT has consistently showcased strong performance and camaraderie in numerous international dragon boat races.
Princess’s extensive international experience, including representing both the Philippine and Singapore National Dragon Boat teams and serving as President of the International Dragon Boat Community in Singapore, made her an invaluable mentor for Race2Share. Her leadership and expertise were crucial in preparing the team for their significant race.
Photo: Race2Share
Florence Baito, 39, from Iloilo who has been working in Singapore for 12 years is the team’s crew lead and steersperson finds the journey to be both challenging and rewarding. “I felt some pressure and nervousness as a steersperson for the team. I even doubted myself at times, wondering if I could do it. But what motivated me was the trust my team and coach had in me,” she said. “This experience taught me that we’re stronger together—teamwork is everything. Reaching the brink of the semi-finals was already a huge milestone for us as a team. We truly showed the world what we are made of.”
This international race demonstrated the team’s dedication, courage, and the supportive environment Race2Share has cultivated. Competing on an international stage was not just a goal but a reflection of what can be achieved when women are given the opportunity to excel.
As Race2Share continues to grow, it remains committed to empowering underrepresented women, challenging stereotypes, and fostering positive change through sports. This race is only the beginning of many more milestones for the team and the community it uplifts.
Follow them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/race2share) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/race2share).
