Restoration Burundi (RESTOBU) is a Christian non-profit organization founded in 2014 to promote peace, justice, reconciliation, and socio-economic development among vulnerable communities in Burundi.

Peace Clubs are school-based clubs where students learn peacebuilding, leadership, citizenship, and biblical values while promoting reconciliation in their communities.

RESTOBU works in several provinces of Burundi, including Bujumbura, Kirundo, and Cibitoke, through schools, prisons, churches, and vulnerable communities.

Restoration Burundi was founded by Gratien Nibigira

Restoration Burundi was founded by Gratien Nibigira

While preaching during a harvest initiative campaign in Makamba, Gratien met a widow who had lost her husband and all her children during the 1972 and 1993 crises in Burundi. Having also lost all his siblings during the crises, Gratien deeply identified with her suffering. Their encounter led him to reflect on the painful consequences of Burundi’s recurring conflicts. He felt called to stand up, pray, and take action to promote reconciliation among Burundians. This experience inspired the establishment of Restoration Burundi.

RESTOBU initially organized peace conferences for young people and students in schools. In response to the 2015 political crisis, the organization began establishing peace clubs in various schools across Burundi, including all schools of excellence.

Burundi has experienced repeated cycles of violence that have contributed to the erosion of positive values, the spread of hatred, and divisions across generations. These recurring conflicts have demonstrated how young people can become victims of manipulation.RESTOBU chose to focus on schools because young people will become the future leaders of the country in various sectors. By educating them about peace, reconciliation, and social cohesion, RESTOBU aims to sow the seeds of peace and contribute to the emergence of a transformed generation of Burundians.

Through peace clubs and other educational activities, young people are taught about peacebuilding, conflict prevention and resolution, reconciliation, social cohesion, and peaceful coexistence. These lessons encourage them to reject hatred and violence, embrace positive values, and become agents of peace in their schools, families, and communities.

RESTOBU began focusing on Kirundo Province at the end of 2020, when many Burundian refugees started returning to the country. Kirundo was among the provinces receiving large numbers of returnees. RESTOBU intervened to support their social reintegration and promote peaceful coexistence between returnees and host communities.

RESTOBU established peace clubs in schools that brought together students who had returned from exile and those who had remained in Burundi. The students received training in social cohesion and peacebuilding to strengthen mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.RESTOBU also conducted training sessions with local administrative authorities to help create a safer and more supportive environment for returnees.

The reintegration project in Kirundo was supported by the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).

In addition to establishing peace clubs in schools, RESTOBU carries out other peace education initiatives, including awareness-raising activities targeting young people affiliated with political parties and radio programs that educate the public about peace, reconciliation, and social cohesion.One of these initiatives is ARATURABA, a radio awareness program that contributes to public education on relevant legal texts and issues affecting society.