Aimed at closing the educational gap that exists among students, particularly in Israel's southern region, Breakthrough is a non-profit association privately sponsored by Mr. Yosi Gal-On, for the promotion of educational projects.

The Association's members currently include: Yosi Gal-On; Anat Gal-On; Dalya Yairi; Nisim Cohen; Rami Rinot; Shula Livni, Secretary; Yigal Guzman, Accountant; Haim Pitchon, Leagal Counsel.

The first project to be promoted by the Association is "Ometz", or Project Courage. It involves a supplementary support class at Kiryat Gat's Shalon School, to prepare students for their matriculation exams. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, the aim of Project Courage is to give students who failed in their junior high school studies, a second chance. The anticipated result is the closure of the educational gap, with the students taking advantage of the regained opportunity to achieve full matriculation.

The Project Courage model is based on small classes, a semester-based curriculum and a full-time dedicated educator. Studies are concentrated and intense, with the school day ending in the early hours of the evening. The school's faculty provides the teaching resource for the project. Studies commence during the summer break between 9th and 10th grades.

The semester program prepares the students to take one to two matriculation exams at the end of each semester. The first exam is in mathematics. Although this is considered the most difficult, the material can be mastered relatively quickly. The project's success rate for this matriculation exam has been over 90%.

In addition to the intense studies and long school day, just prior to exams the students take part in a several day 'study marathon' held in the closed, total environment of a guest house.

Each class has a full-time educator who accompanies them throughout the year and whose task is to follow the progress of every student and help solve any academic or personal problems that arise.

Teachers of specific subjects are regular school faculty members who benefit no less from the experience than the students. It is a powerful motivating force to see that students who have failed in the past, can, under the right circumstances, succeed. Teachers are given a fresh outlook and are encouraged to work with, rather than giving up on, problematic students.

At the Shalon School in Kiryat Gat, there are currently two Courage classes of 20 students each, preparing students for their matriculation exams. One class sponsored by Breakthrough, has been opened in September 2000. The second class, has been sponsored by the Ministry of Education and the Kiryat Gat Municipality since 1996.