Gazelle Foundation co-founder Gilbert Tuhabonye was honored at HISTORYTalks 2026 with a moving video tribute celebrating his extraordinary journey from surviving genocide in Burundi to inspiring hope and changing lives through clean water. On the anniversary of his survival, we're sharing this powerful tribute to his resilience, forgiveness, and enduring impact.
Every October, Gilbert Tuhabonye gathers with friends and supporters in Austin to mark the anniversary of the day his life changed forever, and to honor his second chance at life through a mission of hope, healing, and clean water.
Watch The Journey Behind Every Drop and see how a water system goes from careful planning to clean water flowing throughout a community.
See the smiles. Hear the celebration. When clean water reaches a community in Burundi, the gratitude is profound—and so is the reminder of what your support makes possible.
Preparation for water system construction in rural Burundi takes planning. Find out all the steps that are taken before construction kicks off. Our local project manager partners directly with those who will benefit from the water system. Local residents are hired to help build the system, and community members volunteer to maintain each part of the system. These measures ensure the water system will operate for years.
Construction on the Kanyinya-Nyagihotora water system began on February 25, 2019.
At the outset this community, located in Rwasanga Colline, Bururi Province. Among the 3,000 beneficiaries of this water system are; 414 students and teachers of Nyagihotora primary school, 476, students and teachers of Kinyinya primary school, 350 worshipers of Nyagihotora Pentecote Church.
We are pleased to announce that construction on the Ndago-Murabi-Myange Extension water system #51 began on February 25, 2019, and was completed on June 19, 2019. The project renovates and expands existing water infrastructure that had failed due to inadequate water supply. The Gazelle Foundation re-engineered the system, so it has sufficient water flow and built a large tank that will supply this community with clean water for generations to come.
We are pleased to announce the construction on the Kinyinya-Nyagihotora water system #52 began on February 25, 2019. Thanks to donations from our generous supporters, the water system was completed June 5, 2019. Among the 3,000 beneficiaries of this water system are; 414 students and teachers of Nyagihotora primary school, 476, students and teachers of Kinyinya primary school, 350 worshipers of Nyagihotora Pentecote Church..
Construction of the Kanyinya-Nyagihotora water system, a 11.05km (6.867 miles) project is about to begin. When complete 3,000 people will have daily access to water, including students and teachers at two different schools, a church, and a health center.
Access to clean water creates new opportunities and changes the trajectory of every person in the community. That’s what we mean when we say clean water transforms lives. 16 weeks of work by local contractors in Burundi and the support of people just like you are what it takes to make this project a reality.
After just 16 weeks the Gahanda-Rwego Water Project is complete and bringing clean water to 2,750 kids, grandparents, and families.
People using this water system are immediately healthier, because sanitation and hygiene are boosted, and risk of water-borne infectious diseases are reduced. Rather than spending hours collecting water, kids get more time to attend school. And people can work and earn money. The combination of health, income and education begin to reverse a cycle of poverty.
Providing access to clean water is more than quenching thirst. Regular access to clean water saves lives. We thrilled to report that the Kadasha-Kayange water system is 90% complete. Over the next few weeks all holding tanks, pipes, and tap stands will be connected, then final testing will begin. Five tap stands distribute clean water to 1,200 people. This water system is one of three that the Gazelle Foundation is currently working on. The project is on time and on budget, and its impact is already considerable.
Construction on the Ngabwe-Gikuyo Extension water system is complete!
We are pleased to announce that construction on the Ngabwe-Gikuyo Extension Water system began in September 2018 and finished in January 2019. This extension project refurbished the existing system and added new storage tanks and tap stands increasing the capacity and access to clean water for this thriving community that includes a primary school, college and church. This system is located near a primary school and a university, which means students have access to a clean and abundant supply of water.
