Virginia Friends of Mali

Click here to visit preview of Segou's official website.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 19, 2010 SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL SELECTS 17 U.S. CITIES TO LEAD INFRASTRUCTURE-BUILDING PROJECTS IN AFRICA Projects to address sanitation, health, and water issues in urban areas WASHINGTON, DC — Sister Cities International announces today that 17 U.S. cities and their African counterparts were selected to develop projects to address sanitation, health, and water issues in urban areas of Africa. The new selection brings the total to 24 U.S.-African city pairs participating in the Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Program (AUPAP), a three-year project funded by a $7.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "This Sister Cities International program represents a major effort to address the fundamental needs of citizens of urban areas in Africa," said Patrick Madden, President and CEO, Sister Cities International. "As we’ve seen during the first year, U.S. communities are eager to roll up their sleeves, identi...

The twelve months between March 2009 and today have been some of the most active in VFOM's history and include the following benchmarks: May 2009: VFoM received IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit status October 13, 2009: Segou's Mayor Ousmane K. Simaga and Richmond's Mayor Dwight C. Jones sign the agreement for Richmond and Segou to become sister cities. February 5, 2010: A reception is held in Segou MALI during the 6th annual Festival Sur Le Niger during which a second signing ceremony was held to affirm the new sister city relationship. February 7, 2010: Richmond is also honored as Guest City of the festival and during the closing ceremonies, Virginia Friends of Mali receive the festival's special Faro (Spirit of the Niger River) Award.