Petra House, in Chennai, is a Home for children who have been orphaned or traumatized due to the December 2004 Tsunami. All these children attend local schools and receive counseling, love and support from the caring staff.

After the tsunami hit the east coast of India in December 2005, countless number of children was left without parents. Some lost everything in the rage of the sea. Anita Edgar and Matthew Kurian went on a mission to see if El Shaddai could help in any way at this dreadful time. Initially they helped to buy some essential items that would at least kill the hunger in the stomachs of the people who had eaten for many days. Later two villages were adopted by El Shaddai and food and shelter was provided. Every article had to be bought, as the people in the villages had lost everything in the tide wave. Later the need for a permanent residence for the children was felt and so PETRA HOUSE was opened in 2005, about a year after the tsunami hit. It is located in Chennai and managed by the charis Foundation Charitable Trust.

Today it has become a Home for more than 40 children under the age of 15 years. All are victims of the Tsunami. These children are provided with food, clothing shelter and education. Their medical needs are also met promptly. Every child in this house attends school. Some attend the school in their vernacular language, Tamil, whereas other go to the English medium school.

We being based in Goa have been able to make a difference in the lives of children who live on the other side of India.This makes us very glad and also reinforces our desire to help more children who are in need of our help. The Tsunami robbed these children of everything and we hope to al least give them back their childhood.