Zile Foundation launches Binational Solidarity Week for Haiti–Dominican peace

Santo Domingo.- In response to recent tragedies—the deadly collapse of the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic, which claimed over 230 lives, and ongoing gang violence in Haiti, with more than 6,500 deaths since early 2024—the Zile Foundation is launching a special edition of its Diaspora Week, titled Binational Solidarity Week.

Now in its 13th edition, this year’s event shifts from its usual celebratory tone to one of reflection and unity, aiming to strengthen ties between Haiti and the Dominican Republic and promote a culture of peace. The week will feature 15 activities across five cities, supported by institutions such as the Embassy of Haiti, Western Union, and the Vimenca Group.

The initiative’s goals include fostering bilateral dialogue, encouraging cooperation amid crisis, and involving diplomats, academics, and youth in building “bridges, not walls.” The week will open on Monday, April 21, with a virtual high-level panel titled “Dominican Republic and Haiti: Propositive Diplomatic Dialogue.” The panel will feature four speakers—Bernardo Vega and José Serulle from the Dominican Republic, and Daniel Supplice and Régine Lamur from Haiti—moderated by psychiatrist Dr. José Dunker. The event will be streamed live on @fundacionzile and RC Noticias, and available via Zoom.

The Zile Foundation emphasizes that this marks the first major binational event of 2025, aiming to rekindle values of human connection and cooperation through technology and dialogue.