The orphanage has been serving homeless and orphaned children for over 30 years. Machilipatnam was severely impacted by the tsunami on 26 December 2004 and as a direct result 110 orphaned children lost their parents and have been cared for by the orphanage. The financial burden placed on the orphanage is significant as they try to feed, clothe and educate the children, many of whom now are entering higher education.

The other children who live in the orphanage are from the untouchable social class from villages where literacy rates are less than 15%. The orphanage offers education, shelter and love to the most vulnerable.

The current orphanage is not ideal. It is situated in central Machilipatnam in a residential area. The children have inadequate facilities. They all sleep on the floor, either on the roof of the school or in the church. Recently the orphanage has bought some land outside of the city suitable for a secondary school, new orphanage and some accommodation for visitors.

Working with other churches we plan to raise the £200,000 in order to give the children both suitable accommodation and educational facilities.

The secondary school will also act as a technical college offering applied skills, so allowing the children the opportunity to enter in to the workplace with skills that they can use to support themselves.

The orphanage is a family, and as such, there is no requirement for any of the children to leave when they reach 18 years of age.

This is a tremendously worthwhile cause, and we would encourage you to get involved.