The Ashraya Initiative for Children (AIC) began in early 2004 as a small group of concerned, dedicated college students working toward a better life for street children in Pune, India. Since the arrival of the first three children in June 2005, it has grown to house nine children in the residential program, and serve an additional twelve girls in its educational outreach program. AIC believes in investing as much as possible in each and every child, and for this reason has committed to remaining small, so that our children might grow up in a loving and supporting family environment rather than in a larger institutional setting. The outreach program is similarly structured, providing financial, nutritional, health and emotional support to twelve girls in the neighboring busti (slum) that they might continue their education and break the cycle of poverty.