Katherine García: The young woman who turned the Jet Set’s pain into a charitable cause

Santo Domingo. – Behind the cold numbers and statistics left by the Jet Set tragedy, there are stories that still breathe among the rubble. One of them is that of Katherine García, a young woman who, without knowing any of the victims, turned her shock into action.

Katherine walks through ground zero. There are still dried flowers, broken photographs, and traces of a pain that doesn’t fade. “When I saw what happened on Instagram, I froze,” she recalls. It was her sister who told her what had happened. From that moment, her life also changed. “My sister was the one who said to me: ‘Did you see what happened at the Jet Set?’ and I didn’t know. When I went on Instagram I saw what happened, and that day I didn’t work, I couldn’t do anything.”

Moved by the feeling of helplessness, she started a spontaneous aid campaign: she raised funds through Instagram, WhatsApp, and community groups to bring food, water, and support to the rescuers who were working tirelessly.

“I did it until the last day they were here,” says Katherine. The solidarity of the people was such that part of the money raised still remains in her hands. But not for long: she already has a new purpose.

“I raised so much money that what I have left I will use to help orphaned children,” she affirms firmly. For her, that is the purest way to honor the memory of those who are no longer with us.

Justice on hold

But beyond the help, Katherine expresses a pain that many families share: the feeling that the tragedy was forgotten too soon.

“Everything has fallen silent. Although the owner perhaps did not want it, because his family was part of those who came, a face that says: ‘What can we do?’ has not been seen. The families are still waiting for answers”, he denounces.

Two months after the collapse of the Jet Set, the search for justice is still pending. Meanwhile, Katherine and many others refuse to let oblivion win the battle. In each flower placed.