Gratien Nibigira, born in 1989, endured a traumatic childhood after his father was killed in the 1993 war, forcing him to grow up in a displacement camp. His education was interrupted by poverty, and he was a child-soldier for four years.

A turning point came during a prayer, where he felt called by God to move to the capital. There, his faith grew through his involvement with a Christian Union and organizations like Scripture Union and Harvest Initiatives.

The inspiration for Restobu occurred during an outreach mission, where Gratien encountered a destitute 75-year-old widow who had lost her entire family in the country's various crises. He describes receiving a direct call from God to "work and pray for national reconciliation, forgiveness and social justice."

This divine instruction led to the creation of Restoration Burundi. When a new political crisis erupted in 2015, Restobu was already positioned to act, organizing peace and non-violence conferences in schools, universities, and communities. The organization continues its work in strategic schools and with repatriated refugees in several provinces.