Restoration Burundi (Restobu) targets schools and communities to impact Burundian society. The mission statement is to empower, equip and facilitate a network of social and civic organisations across the nation with the aim of consolidating quality leadership and economic development for all levels across society.
Restoration Burundi was founded by Gratien Nibigira. During a Harvest Initiatives outreach in the bush, he came across a destitute 75-year-old widow, a victim of both the 1972 and 1993 crises. Both her husband and all her children had been killed, and she lived in a straw hut without any help from anyone. Through engaging with her, Gratien was compelled to act. The Lord spoke to him clearly: “Gratien, rise up, work and pray for national reconciliation, for forgiveness and social justice so that such miserable scenarios become a thing of the past!” That is how Restoration Burundi came into being.
In 2015, a new political crisis erupted, in which Restobu were already prepared to engage, so they were amongst the first groups to organise conferences on peace and non-violence in secondary schools, universities, local communities and amongst young impressionable political activists. Restobu currently works in a selected number of strategic schools, and amongst repatriated refugees in Makamba, Cibitoke and Kirundo.
