In the heart of Yoruba culture lies the word "Oremi," meaning "my friend". Oremi sits at the intersection of culture and impact and serves as a symbol of our innate power to choose our narratives. It is an invitation to  embrace the stories that unite us while consciously avoiding those that foster division. It is the creation of Ola Ogungbemile, a Nigerian-Canadian who moved from Lagos to Ottawa at the age of 13. Through the perspective of a traveller—and a desire to reconcile the various worlds that have shaped him—emerges Oremi's mission to foster a more united world.

Upon arriving in Canada, it was friends like Eugene Ha, who welcomed him with open arms and invited him into their family home, that helped him find a sense of belonging. As a traveller in Asia and South America, it was the locals, who shared their ways and customs, that made him feel more connected. Viewing others as friends, through the lens of Oremi, we make them feel welcome even without inviting them into our homes. Seeing others as friends, we seek to understand their journey and refrain from making assumptions about them. In looking at others as friends, we approach them with love, not hate.

This global perspective is why Oremi gives a full pack of school supplies to a refugee child, for every item sold. In 2023 alone, according to the UNHCR, over 117 million people were forcibly displaced or stateless.

Now, more than ever, the world needs a symbol of unity. This is the reason we exist.