The Story of Better Together
You can find out how our story continued and continues
in our NEWS section here.
How It All Began
(2022 – June 2025)
The story of the NGO Better Together begins with a story of Philipp Konrad Labhart. Working as a teacher at a primary school in Switzerland – where up to 90% of the students had a migration background, many from the Balkans – Philipp recognized a need for learning and understanding, especially for someone like him without a migration background.
In September 2021, he decided to embark on a journey from Switzerland to the Balkans on his fully packed bicycle. Over three and a half months and 3,500 kilometers, he traversed all the countries of the former Yugoslavia (including his first visit to Kosovo) and Albania.
Inspired by his experiences, three months later – after a music production in Switzerland – he returned, this time with his guitar, taking trains and ferries, to perform as a street musician in Albania.
He performed street music for a few weeks but ended up staying in Albania for three months. Afterward, he spent a month in Prizren, assisting a young Kosovar entrepreneur in setting up his hostel. In late summer 2022, following a European tour with a Swiss-American band and DJ performances in Switzerland, he moved to Kosovo with his then-partner. At that time, he was also in the final stages of research for his book on Swiss primary schools.
During this period, he began volunteering with THE IDEA PARTNERSHIP an NGO in Fushë Kosovë (near Prishtina), a Kosovo-based NGO that works to empower marginalized communities – particularly the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian populations – through education, health, and employment initiatives.
Simultaneously, he made his first musical connections, meeting pianist and jazz festival founder Ilir Bajri and multi-instrumentalist and concertmaster of the Kosovo Philharmonic, Visar Kuçi. As a trumpeter, he participated in jazz sessions, quickly becoming acquainted with the local music scene and its members. In spring 2023, he released his first EP under his new singer-songwriter project, S. Franklin & The Broken Wings, and celebrated his live premiere in May 2023 in Prishtina (at Defy Them) alongside Kosovar musicians.
S. Franklin & The Broken Wings
Prior to that, he toured Kosovo as a street musician, deepening his connection to the country and its people.
Subsequent times were eventful: a summer split between Albania and Switzerland, and a separation from his partner. In September 2023, Labhart returned to Prishtina. While in the midst of writing his book (www.meindorfmeineschule.ch), he also met new figures in the music scene that autumn, including the label head of Hoogie Minoogie and musician Art Lokaj. Alongside resuming his engagement with the NGO Ideas Partnership Shqip, he entered an intensive musical phase: collaborating with Kosovar musicians on a new album for his singer-songwriter project and contributing to the production of Art Lokaj’s second album.
By summer 2024, he was also active as a trumpeter in various projects, including with Malda Susuri and La Fazani.
Links:
- Malda Susuri: YouTube Video
- Art Lokaj: Live in Gjilan
Throughout this time, he remained receptive and observant—learning extensively about people, cultures, music creation, and the local music scene. Initial ideas for future projects began to take shape. From summer 2024, the first concrete development phase commenced, eventually leading to Better Together. Together with current founding and board members Tringe Sokoli and Medina Orana, initial planning and vision discussions were held, culminating in November 2024 with the official founding and registration of the Kosovar NGO Better Together (Më mirë së bashku).
Starting in summer 2024, Labhart began – on a voluntary and unpaid basis – implementing the NGO’s first planned program: The Sharing Knowledge Program.
He supported the NGO Defy Them in executing the jazz concert series PrishtinaJazzCatz and, alongside Kombëtar Uskana (CEO of Defy Them) and Ylber Havolli (Management), further developed the existing Music Incubator Program. He actively contributed to structural changes and shared his knowledge – the core of the program.
Following the founding, further research, and networking, the team finalized the strategy and programs for 2025/26, securing an initial financial partner, which led to the hiring of Flutura Celaj (Project Management and Fundraising).
A central element of Labhart’s research through practical action is the project he initiated: The Prishtina Soul Kitchen – a venture with multiple objectives: to gain deeper insights into the Kosovar music landscape and to actively promote live music, especially original music in the genres of soul, funk, jazz, and hip-hop. The specially assembled band primarily consists of young, talented musicians mentored by Labhart. The event series also specifically supports female singers from Kosovo. The Prishtina Soul Kitchen Crew
Since March 2025, the Better Together team (particularly Çelaj and Labhart) has been intensively engaged in fundraising, communication, and networking activities for the planned programs. Simultaneously, under the voluntary leadership of Afron Orana, a team of software developers has been working on the platform ThisIsKosova.Art, set to launch its alpha version by the end of May 2025.
Here’s an Interview with Labhart and Arlinda Ramadani from “Suzanne Podcast”
Phillip’s Trumpet Tale in Kosova – by Suzanne Podcast
In April 2025, the Swiss Development Cooperation also confirmed its financial support for the 2025/26 program – a significant and very helpful milestone in the young history of the NGO.
May 2025
We are working on the TIKA Platform. On the one hand together with Afron Orana on the digital implementation – the site is taking shape. On the other hand, we have started the detailed planning for the implementation.
The “Knowledge Sharing Program” is bearing its first “visible” fruits: the kick-off event for the new Music Incubator Program, which Labhart has developed together with Defy Them Management over the past eight months, is imminent.
We are also continuing to work on fundraising projects and the publication of the homepage.
Medina Orana, Philipp Konrad Labhart, Tringë Sokoli
June 2025
Knowledge Sharing Program
In collaboration with Better Together – Philipp Konrad Labhart is continuing to build up a professional event management team for Defy Them – the 14th edition of Jazz Catz will take place.
The aim for the rest of the year is to train young adults in event management and to enable them to take on responsibility for the Jazz Catzs (and other DefyThem) events.
The Music Incubator Program
KICK OFF EVENT
The kick-off event for the new Music Incubator Program took place on Saturday, June 14. The program was developed under the direction of Philipp Konrad Labhart with the participation of Defy Them Management and the members of the previous Music Incubator Program (Monday Sessions). The kick-off was a success and everyone involved is looking forward to the start of the program in September.
The Prishtina Soul Kitchen – Supporting the local music scene
The fourth edition of “The Prishtina Soul Kitchen” took place in collaboration with the cultural venue “PI-Night”. The event was sold out with over 150 visitors. This time, too, new female singers were introduced with their own songs.
This edition marks the end of the trial and promotion phase. A possible further implementation with additional financial supporters and sponsors is now being examined for September. The aim is to provide additional production support to promote the music of female singers in particular.
You can find out how our story continued and continues
in our NEWS section here.
July 2025
ThisIsKosova.Art comes alive
In collaboration with Afron Orana and Agon Ibrahimi, the first version of the online platform “ThisIsKosova.Art” is becoming a reality – not yet public, but at least testable.
August 2025
In August, we are creating an explanatory video for the NGO Better Together, as well as about our central pilot project, which, with the support of the Swiss Development Cooperation and the association “Hinterhaus” (Switzerland), is soon to be published.
September 2025
The platform went online in its first version on September 15. A word-of-mouth strategy is realized until the official presentation at the beginning of November as part of the Prishtina Music Conference.
In addition to numerous direct contacts and discussions, we organized our first community event in Pristina, which was attended by the first curious musicians. CEO Labhart presented the platform, and everyone had the opportunity to share stories, wishes, and feedback. Much of the feedback from the discussions and the event was incorporated into the ongoing development of the platform.
October and November 2025
From October onwards, everything continued to revolve around the concept of “Better Together.” Numerous discussions took place with partner institutions and music business partners, both to present the platform and to share common goals and visions.
The large-scale social media campaign then kicked off in mid-October, planned by the Renesa Creative agency and implemented until mid-November.
On November 7, the platform was presented to the public at the Prishtina Music Conference. Our project manager, Flutura Çelaj, presented the platform to a large audience, including representatives from the music scene, embassies, the government, and the media. Guest speakers included Swiss Ambassador Jürg Sprecher, Better Together founder and CEO Philipp Konrad Labhart, and two established Kosovar musicians, Visar Kuçi and Arber Salihu.
More about the official presentation here.
The first phase of the project ended at the end of November.We were still in talks with various potential partners, pursuing our fundraising strategy, and planning further community events throughout Kosovo for early December. (30.11.2025)
December 2025
Community Events
Our first journey across Kosovo began with open doors, open hearts, and open conversations.
From Mitrovica to Peja and Prizren, we encountered places full of energy and people full of courage, creativity, and warmth.
We met musicians, cultural workers, and community members who generously shared their stories – stories about making music in Kosovo, about resilience, about joy, and about the very real opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for ThisIsKosova.Art. Each conversation left a trace. Each encounter shaped our understanding.
This first trip was more than a research journey. It was an invitation – to listen carefully, to learn humbly, and to build something meaningful together.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who took the time to meet us, to speak openly, and to trust us with their thoughts and experiences. Your voices will become part of the platform, and your feedback will guide its next steps.
None of this would have been possible without the support and trust of our partners. A heartfelt thank you to the Swiss Development Cooperation Office and the Siwss Embassy in Kosovo @swissdevcoop, and the Hinterhaus Association for believing in this journey and making it possible.
This is only the beginning.
We look forward to weaving your insights into the platform – and to meeting again very soon.
Sharing Knowledge Program
Building on the work carried out since the summer of 2024, the collaboration with Defy Them was concluded, and the project was successfully completed.
This pilot project in our Knowledge Sharing Program generated measurable and sustainable impact by strengthening organizational capacities. Through targeted knowledge transfer in management, organizational development, and program design, improving planning and documentation processes, and navigating periods of organizational transition.
As evidenced by the collaboration with Defy Them, the program contributed to higher professional standards, increased institutional resilience, and the long-term development of cultural initiatives. Beyond individual organizations, the Knowledge Sharing Program demonstrated its broader value by reinforcing the cultural ecosystem through trust-based collaboration, strategic advisory support, and the sustainable sharing of expertise. With the guidance of Philipp Konrad Labhart (our CEO), planning and coordination responsibilities within the JazzCatz series were successfully handed over to young adults and the team of Defy Them.
2026
January
This month, we are working hard to connect additional partners to our platform and are also adding further open calls.
With this new January, we are also beginning to highlight our members and bands/artists.
Our musician and member of the monthfor January is Vesa Doli and our band/artist of the month for January is Gillespie.
