Major new international projects this year include:

• During the Kosovo refugee crisis Shiva Halli, sociology, established a database of personal information about the Kosavars after being approached by the United Nations. Because many of the refugees lost all of their personal documents, Halli designed a survey from which data is being used to help in the reconstruction process. Halli is an internationally renowned demographer who has spent many years studying immigration in Canada and other countries. As part of his involvement as a board member for the Prairie Centre of Excellence for Research in Immigration and Integration, Halli works with community organizations, policy makers, immigrant communities and government agencies to conduct research and develop policies concerning immigration.
  
  
• In March, 2000 Maria Minna, Canada’s Minister for International Cooperation announced that the federal government will contribute $11.2 million towards an international joint venture led by the University of Manitoba to fight HIV/AIDS in India. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) selected the University of Manitoba to lead the venture because of its outstanding record in developing and maintaining HIV/AIDS research programs in other countries. The research team, led by Stephen Moses, medical microbiology, will focus on providing peer-mediated group education and condom protection, voluntary HIV counselling and testing, needle exchanges and antiretroviral therapy for pregnant women. The project will provide support to the two Indian states of Karnataka and Rajasthan, covering a population of approximately 100 million people. Almost 10 per cent of the estimated 31 million people currently infected with HIV worldwide live in India, making it the country with the most severe HIV/AIDS burden in the world.
  
  
• The University of Manitoba received $2,241,400 from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), for the implementation of a project led by Brad McKenzie, social work. Entitled "Reforming Social Services Through Social Work Education, Community Partnerships and Independent Living for Disabled People in Ukraine," McKenzie is directing the three-year initiative with the objective of contributing to Ukraine’s social reform through improved social work education, partnerships with the community and the strengthening of disability organizations. Lviv Polytechnic State University in Ukraine, The Canadian Centre on Disability Studies, Ukrainian-Canadian Social Services (Manitoba Branch) and the U of M are partners in the project, contributing a combined total of more than $3 million in funding.