Since the end of armed conflict in September 1993, local people have organized nongovernmental organizations to help rebuild their communities. Mass violence ended in September 1993 with a fragile cease-fire, leaving Abkhazia de facto independent but unrecognized by any country in the world. The destruction of the infrastructure has left Abkhazia with inadequate facilities to provide decent medical and psychological help. Negotiations for a political settlement are continuing, but with little progress, and the fear of renewed fighting is a constant presence. The psychological burden is exacerbated by economic collapse, displacement, continuing deaths (often caused by land mines) and a feeling of isolation.

People have organized in order to become self reliant, and to help others. They are motivated by a desire to build a humane and civil society, inclusive of all groups. This post-Soviet generation of public service organizations is not waiting for assistance from others, but are seeking ways to mobilize their own resources.

The Centre for Humanitarian Programmes (CHP) was one of the first nongovernmental organizations These are just a few of the numerous self-help organizations. The CHP was founded in December 1994 in Sukhumi in an attempt to address post-war problems. Its goals are to provide war survivors with therapy for post-traumatic stress syndrome, develop new school curricula promoting the principles and practices of civil society, and promote conflict resolution skills, and second track activities with Georgian organizations. More recently it has become the center for the development and mentoring of new NGOs.