Since 2005 Virginia Friends of Mali has worked to fulfill its mission through three core program tracks:

Teaching Teachers
At the heart of Virginia Friends of Mali's mission are its programs and tools that support the Mali/World History requirement of the Virginia Standards of Learning for 3rd - 6th grade students and their teachers. These programs have included musical and storytelling events and exhibitions of Malian art and artifacts experienced by more than 22,000 Virginia schoolchildren to date. They provide further vehicles for educators, artisans and other cultural practitioners whose work or studies relate to Mali and West Africa to share their knowledge with the next generation.

Connecting Cultures
Virginia Friends of Mali organizes travel and inter-cultural exchange programs designed to connect the people of Mali and Virginia in compelling and productive ways. These have included excursion groups to Mali during the time of the annual music festival held on the river Niger in Segou and hosting dignitaries from Mali including Mali's prime minister and ambassador to the US (2005), the director of the Festival of the Niger (2007), and the deputy director of Mali's National Museum (2008). VFOM is currently working to establish a sister-city relationship between Richmond, Virginia and Segou, Mali, and hopes to promote the exchange of musical talent between the Richmond and Segou folk and music festivals.