Our co-founder Gilbert Tuhabonye is featured in an interview recorded at Oslo Freedom Forum by The Human Aspect. The story details Gilbert’s escape from genocide in Burundi, how he lives with faith and joy, and his desire to give clean water to his home country. Watch the full story and learn more about how you can help our mission.
Click the link below, and search for “Gilbert”
“Everything was turned upside down. I went from being a cherished local running hero to being hunted down like an animal to be burned alive. Tensions between the people called “Hutu” and “Tutsi” were rising, but I was focused on my dream to become a professional runner at boarding school, and when I realized the severity, it was too late. Fighting for my life in the middle of the genocide while others died by my side haunted my dreams long after I miraculously escaped the horrors. See how I managed to find the motivation to focus on my physical healing through my desire to run again. As an outspoken survivor, I had to flee my country, which brought another grievance to my life. Once I regained my physical strength, my running helped me face the trauma, anger, and hate threatening my mind. Learn how I found ways to forgive and focus on working for unity and reconciliation. I decided to actively use my journey to raise awareness and work for peace through unity projects in my home country. This is my story.”
Clean Water Changes Everything
“Everybody deserves clean water.” -Gilbert Tuhabonye
As Gilbert says, water is the number one issue in Africa. Water is everywhere - but it is not clean. Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world, and the leading cause of death is from preventable, waterborne diseases.
Clean water is the foundation for improved health, better educational opportunities, safer communities, and economic investment. Most of all, it provides hope to a country mostly forgotten by the world.
All Gazelle Foundation water systems provide clean water, free of charge, for life to all community members - regardless of tribe, ethnicity, or religion - with the aim of fostering long-term peace and stability in the region.
Tap stands are strategically positioned within easy walking distance to schools, churches, community centers, and other central locations to maximize access points for residents. Equitably providing clean water to all, healing divisions and building common ground.
Gazelle Foundation’s Mission
Gazelle Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for the people of Burundi by providing access to clean water, so that they can experience the highest quality of life and hope within reach. Our unique connection to Burundi, and our strong relationships with on-the-ground partners, mean that we can effect change in a place where many others cannot. Learn why water matters.
Burundi needs us and we need you. Each of our events is an opportunity to provide clean water to those that need it most. Connect to our community here in order to transform lives in a community in Burundi.
About the Oslo Freedom Forum
Before the Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF) became the internationally recognized conference for democracy and human rights it’s now known for, it began as a group of roughly 200 individuals who gathered in the Norwegian capital in 2009 to celebrate the survivors of Communism and Nazism.
It was meant to be a gathering to capture, in a high-quality video production, these heroes in the flesh — those that were still with us, at least.
It was meant to preserve their stories, to record their struggles for the next generation in the hope the world wouldn’t forget. History, unfortunately, has a tendency of repeating itself.
But then the first session proved wildly successful. More than 300 of them (and counting), in fact, from more than 100 countries. Each year, OFF amplifies the voices of courageous dissidents and exposes the threats to liberal democracy and the day’s most pressing human rights issues.