There are more than 18 million street children in India. In order to assist them, a group of students at McGill University helped set up the Ashraya Initiative for Children (AIC) project, which offers life choices for these young adults endowed with a sharp social consciousness. The AIC centre, which opened in 2005 in the town of Pune, is much more than just a shelter; it is a family environment that meets the physical, emotional and social needs of all the children it takes in. Up to date, the team has “adopted” 11 children between the ages of 6 and 14. The eight project “managers,” who come from various universities across Canada, the United States, Austria and Japan, take turns living at the centre while its permanent employees ensure continuity and respect for the Indian culture. In addition to attending school and taking part in everyday family life, the students pursue their fields of interest and develop their individual talents, and can thus achieve a sense of fulfillment and a desire to serve their community.