VFOM organizes a Virginia delegation to travel to Mali during the Festival on the Niger the first two weeks of Febrary each year. The goal is to take teachers, teachers-in-training and eventually students on this trip to let them be immersed in Malian culture and support their own creative development of curriculum and teachable moments when they return to their students in Virginia. Longtime educator and advocate Barbara Grey has graciously endorsed the establishment of a fund in her name to provide up to 50% matching funding for Virginia-based educators to make this trip; the current goal is to provide funding for up to two educators per year.