When people ask why we call ourselves UNO.TEAM, I usually tell them about a single letter: the O.
The Romance uno and the English one both mean “one”. Put them side by side and they touch in the O: unOne. For us it stands for a simple truth that gets lost so easily in everyday life: we are one humanity on one shared planet. Whoever thinks, hopes or worries in another language still belongs to this one “we”.
The second word that carries us is Ukrainian: варті (varti). It means “worth”. Through the Polish wart it is related to the German wert – a word that has travelled across borders and kept its meaning on the way. For us that means: every person is worth being seen, heard and respected. No matter where they come from, which language they speak or which passport they hold.
Right now UNO.TEAM is two people: Natalia and me. Natalia is a millennial; I belong to Generation X and grew up in the GDR. She comes from Russia, I come from the Ore Mountains. We both speak three languages and live in Leipzig with our two sister cats, Masha and Dasha.
Two generations and two very different life paths lie between us. That’s exactly why we complement each other. What one of us doesn’t understand, the other can often translate – in language and in life. That’s what we want to pass on with THOUGHTS: bridges between languages and life paths, built from real conversations.
UNO.TEAM wants to grow – with people who share these values. If you recognise yourself in unOne and варті, there’s a place at the table for you.
Three questions to keep thinking. Choose an answer – you will then get an explanation and a prompt for self-reflection.
Who would you like to talk to about this thought?
Thank you. Every answer fits – take it with you into your day. Would you like to share something yourself?
