Who We Are

USAAOM was founded on August 15, 2011, by Marie Pour, a courageous Liberian refugee who overcame the trauma of civil war, sought safety in a refugee camp in Ghana, and eventually built a new life in the United States. Her personal journey of survival, resilience, and renewal and her strong Christian faith is the foundation upon which this organization stands.

Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world after two decades of civil war and violence. Driven by a deep commitment to rebuilding and empowering communities, USAAOM has begun to focus our efforts primarily on the youth in rural areas in Liberia where about 75% of homeless youth reside. Many children living in conflict zones have lost their homes through shelling, have been displaced from their neighborhood, and have had to leave their friends and family. Homelessness among youth is now one of the most severe problems in post-war Liberia, with many sleeping in cemeteries and other informal housing settings in Monrovia and other parts of the country.