Harrismith Project

Harrismith: Our Incubator for Change

We believe Harrismith can become a model for renewal. By investing in education, skills, and partnerships, we are showing what’s possible when a community comes together to unlock potential and rebuild opportunity.

Since 2020, TIMCA has been building a long-term project in Harrismith, a small town in the Free State with big potential. Once an industrial hub on the main trade route between Durban and Johannesburg, Harrismith now faces many of the challenges familiar to small-town South Africa: economic decline, job losses, and limited opportunities for young people.

Why Harrismith?

Harrismith’s unique position makes it an ideal incubator:

  • A small, closely connected community where impact can be measured.
  • A strategic location that links local transformation to national growth.
  • A town that reflects the challenges (and opportunities) of many places across South Africa.

By focusing our work here, we aim to create practical solutions that can be scaled to other under-resourced towns nationwide.

What We’re Building

Since launching in Harrismith’s two largest communities, Intabazwe and Tshiame, we have:

  • Introduced our maths and mindset programme in 10 primary schools.
  • Partnered with Columba Leadership to bring leadership and work readiness training into high schools.

Looking ahead, we are working with partners to:

  • Strengthen education – solid maths, mindset, and problem-solving foundations.
  • Build leadership and life skills – preparing young people to succeed and lead.
  • Create a pipeline of work-ready youth – linking schools, training providers, and businesses.
  • Support families and wellbeing – ensuring learners grow up in safe, healthy environments.
  • Reignite the local economy – through skills, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

A Hub for Opportunity

Our goal is to make Harrismith a living example of small-town revitalisation — a place where education, skills, and community partnerships connect to real opportunities.

We are building towards:

  • A training hub for maths, mindset, and work readiness.
  • Strong monitoring and learning systems to track long-term impact.
  • A pipeline of local talent that strengthens businesses and attracts investment.
  • A collaborative platform for schools, NGOs, business, and government to align efforts.

The Invitation

Harrismith’s future will be written by all of us. Together, we can:

  • Build strong education foundations.
  • Equip young people with skills for life and work.
  • Create a work-ready pipeline that drives economic renewal.
  • Show South Africa how small towns can thrive again.

Harrismith is our incubator. Together, it can become a model for South Africa’s renewal.

TIMCA