About Queen of Peace Institute
Queen of Peace Institute for Community Mental Health Innovations and Rehabilitation (formerly Queen of Peace Rehabilitation and Crisis Centre) is a registered Private Voluntary Organization (PVO 28/13) founded in January 2006 by Dr. Stella Khumalo Punungwe. We exist to provide holistic, evidence-based mental health interventions that enable people with psychosocial disabilities and those affected by drug and substance abuse to regain dignity, purpose, and self‑reliance.
History of the Organisation & What We Stand For
From a small rehabilitation home to a provincial leader in community mental health care
Founding & Early Years
Queen of Peace Institute for Community Mental Health Innovations and Rehabilitation, formerly known as Queen of Peace Rehabilitation and Crisis Centre, was founded in January 2006 by Dr. Stella Khumalo Punungwe as a halfway home for children and adults with mental challenges. The centre initially focused on providing temporary shelter, basic care, and crisis support to individuals with mental health needs.
Formal Registration
On 16 November 2016, the organisation was officially incorporated and registered as a Private Voluntary Organization (PVO 28/13). This formal recognition strengthened our mandate to deliver structured, professional, and accountable mental health and rehabilitation services to individuals, families, and communities.
Holistic Rehabilitation & Community-Based Care
Over time, the Institute expanded its work to provide holistic mental health interventions through:
- Structured residential rehabilitation
- Community-based rehabilitation and follow-up care
- Day care services for ongoing psychosocial support
- Crisis intervention programs
- Community reintegration of people with psychosocial disabilities and drug & substance users
Our work is driven by a core belief: that mental health and psychological wellbeing are the foundation of a healthy, inclusive, and resilient society.
Today & Beyond
Today, Queen of Peace Institute continues to pioneer community mental health innovations in Midlands Province and beyond. We work to ensure that mental health is recognised as an essential component of public health, community development, and sustainable nation‑building, while empowering individuals to become self‑reliant and fully included in society.
Governance & Leadership
Guided by accountable leadership and a committed Board of Directors
Incorporation Details
Legal Status: Private Voluntary Organization (PVO 28/13)
Date of Incorporation: 16 November 2016
The Institute operates under a formal governance structure led by a diverse and experienced Board of Directors that provides oversight, strategic direction, and accountability in all areas of our work.
Board of Directors
- Executive Director / Founder
- Chairperson
- Vice Chairperson
- Secretary
- Vice Secretary
- Treasurer
- Committee Member 1
- Committee Member 2
Vision & Mission
Guided by compassion, driven by excellence
Our Vision
As an organisation, we envision an environment where mental health interventions in Midlands Province serve as a model for Zimbabwe through the realisation that mental health is an essential component of overall wellbeing.
We seek to facilitate positive change in community attitudes and responses to mental health needs of all citizens, including persons with disabilities, in order to foster inclusivity in all aspects of life.
Our Mission
1. To promote positive mental and emotional well‑being for all individuals in Midlands Province and beyond through advocacy and the provision of evidence‑based, culturally appropriate, and inclusive interventions, with special emphasis on people with disabilities, youths, women, the aged, and children in difficult circumstances.
2. To provide compassionate and innovative care to adults, youths, and adolescents struggling with addiction and co‑occurring mental health disorders. Through comprehensive and customised treatment plans, we instil hope that long‑term recovery is possible.
Our Core Values
The principles that guide our work and define our commitment
Compassion
We treat every individual with empathy, dignity, and respect, recognising that recovery begins with genuine care.
Excellence
We maintain high clinical and ethical standards, constantly improving our approaches and services.
Integrity
We operate with transparency, accountability, and professionalism in all of our engagements.
Inclusion
We ensure that our services are accessible and responsive to diverse backgrounds and abilities.
Innovation
We pioneer new, context‑appropriate approaches to mental health care and community rehabilitation.
Empowerment
We equip individuals with life skills, support, and opportunities to live independently and thrive.
Our Rehabilitation Homes & Service Catalogue
A continuum of care from detoxification to community reintegration
Our Rehabilitation Homes
Queen of Peace Institute operates dedicated rehabilitation homes designed to provide safe, structured, and therapeutic environments for:
- People with psychosocial disabilities
- Drug and substance users in need of detox and rehabilitation
- Children, youths, and adults in difficult circumstances
These homes serve as hubs for treatment, rehabilitation, and preparation for community reintegration across Midlands Province and beyond.
Service Catalogue
Our addiction treatment and mental health programs focus on the disease of addiction and the biological, psychological, and social dimensions of mental health conditions. The Institute currently runs three core programmes:
- Drug Addiction Treatment Centre
- Residential Rehabilitation & Crisis Centre
- Occupational & Community Re‑integration & Therapeutic Centre
Pricing and fees are structured to balance sustainability and accessibility, with consideration for vulnerable and low‑income clients. Detailed pricing information is available upon request.
Treatment Services & Key Activities
Comprehensive, integrated services tailored to each individual’s recovery journey
Dual Diagnosis
Identification and treatment of co‑occurring mental health conditions that act as barriers to recovery from substance abuse and psychosocial distress.
Psychosocial Support for Children
Targeted psychosocial support for children in difficult circumstances, including orphans, abused children, and children with mental challenges.
Trauma & GBV Counselling
Post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) counselling and support for survivors of sexual and gender‑based violence (SGBV/GBV).
Detoxification
Safe and supervised detoxification to cleanse the body and mind of drugs and substances abused, forming the foundation for long‑term recovery.
Residential / Inpatient Care
Structured inpatient treatment in a controlled environment, enabling clients to disconnect from triggers and focus fully on treatment and rehabilitation.
Partial Hospitalisation / Outpatient
High‑quality, structured care for clients who do not require full‑time residential placement but still need intensive, ongoing support.
Aftercare Planning
Development of individualised aftercare plans, therapies, and community resources to support clients beyond discharge and reduce risk of relapse.
Alumni Programme
A peer‑support network where former clients can connect, share experiences, and encourage one another to maintain sobriety and wellness.
Family Therapy
Involving families in the recovery journey to improve understanding, strengthen support systems, and enhance treatment outcomes.
Our Spaces & Stories
Visual highlights from our rehabilitation homes, programmes, and community outreach
Rehabilitation Home
Safe, structured, and therapeutic environments tailored to recovery and healing.
Group Sessions
Supportive therapeutic groups that foster connection, insight, and resilience.
Community Outreach
Engagements in hotspot areas, churches, and communities to raise awareness and offer support.
Our Goals as an Organisation
What we are working towards in every programme and partnership
Address Co‑Occurring Conditions
Deepen understanding and treatment of underlying mental health issues that co‑exist with substance use.
Reduce Substance Abuse
Achieve measurable reduction or elimination of drug and substance abuse among individuals and communities we serve.
Build Support Networks
Strengthen connections with families, peers, and community systems that encourage ongoing sobriety and wellbeing.
Remove Access to Illicit Drugs
Contribute to the removal or reduction of access to illegal and dangerous substances in our communities.
Our Approach
Integrated programmes and services for sustainable mental health and recovery
Key Programmes
- Awareness campaigns in rural communities and hotspot areas across Midlands Province.
- Training of Village Community Health Care Workers in managing drug and substance‑related disorders at primary care level.
- Restoring mental wellbeing for people living on the streets through removal, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
- Follow‑up services for people who use drugs to address poor medication adherence and support continuity of care.
- Economic empowerment projects, recreational activities, and occupational therapy to build skills, resilience, and independence.
- Promotion of psychological resilience and reduction of psychological morbidity within communities.
Focus Areas in Practice
- Restoring mental wellbeing for people living on the streets through removal, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
- Raising awareness on mental health among residents of Gweru (community groups, caregiver trainings, mental health screening).
- Building psychological resilience and reducing psychological morbidity in the community.
- Promoting community awareness of illicit drugs and substance abuse (e.g. clean‑up campaigns with youths in churches and the community).
- Supporting self‑reliance for rehabilitated individuals through skills training and empowerment initiatives.
Our Treatment Services
Dual Diagnosis
Identification and treatment of co‑occurring mental health conditions that may hinder recovery.
Detoxification
Cleansing the body and mind of drugs and substances in a supervised, supportive setting.
Residential Inpatient Care
Immersive treatment away from external triggers and environments that fuel substance use.
Partial Hospitalisation
Vita, high‑quality care for clients without needing to stay at the facility full‑time.
Aftercare Planning
Ongoing therapies and resources designed to support life after treatment and prevent relapse.
Alumni Programme
Peer connections and mentorship to sustain sobriety and share lived experience.
Family Therapy
Engaging families in the recovery process to strengthen understanding, support, and long‑term outcomes.
Why Choose Us?
Our commitment to comprehensive, compassionate care sets us apart
In environments where mental health is not valued, individuals affected by mental health disorders and substance use often cannot access appropriate care and social support in time to recover. This creates a cycle of vulnerability, exclusion, and generational impact.
Our primary goal is to reduce vulnerability for people living with mental health challenges, children in difficult circumstances (including orphans and abused children), and individuals affected by drug and substance use.
Through a continuum of programmes—including residential rehabilitation, crisis intervention, community‑based support, follow‑up, economic empowerment, and aftercare—we provide integrated care that addresses the complex needs of individuals, families, and communities.
Professional Team
Multidisciplinary mental health professionals and trained community health workers.
Safe Environment
Secure, supportive settings designed for healing, rehabilitation, and restoration.
Proven Results
Evidence‑based interventions, structured programmes, and measurable outcomes.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Join your hand with us for a better life and a beautiful future. Together, we can reduce vulnerability, restore dignity, and build a mentally healthy, inclusive society for all.