The people we help

Michal was never really good in math. Her troubles started in third grade when she missed some school days, and wasn’t able to catch up. Her parents never had the resources to give her private lessons and everyone just accepted the fact that Michal just wasn’t good at math. Now in fifth grade, she just got an A on her most recent math exam and has been maintaining a B+ average this year. The turnaround can be attributed to the Tafnit program at Uziel elementary school in Kiryat Shmona. Michal’s math teacher notified Michal that she had been chosen to complete extra credit work in math. These days, she stays late every day after school so that her math teacher can review the lesson plan and personally help her with her homework. Because of this personalized attention, the teacher says that Michal is always the first one to raise her hand to solve math problems in front of the class.

What the program does

Through B’YACHAD, our educational initiative in the Galil, we aim to provide the children living in Israel’s social and geographic periphery with opportunities to realize their individual potential. To attain that goal the B’YACHAD program focuses on the development of educational and social service leadership and — whenever possible — integrating the two and promoting cooperation between them.

Since 2002, the staff of professionals and paraprofessionals has focused on at-risk children in preschool to ensure a successful transition into school. At the school level, the teachers work closely with the students to develop and promote basic skills in Hebrew, English, mathematics and computer proficiency. Students also enjoy after-school programs which develop self esteem and life skills, and impart values of social justice and volunteerism. Today, we are working hand-in-hand with local and regional professionals ain their municipalities in order to gradually transfer responsibility for program implementation to them.

B’YACHAD is a partnership between the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Israel Venture Network, Sacta Rashi Foundation and UIA Canada. The initiative aims at promoting high-quality education grounded in values of democracy, tolerance and equal opportunity for children and youth in the Galilee Panhandle. By cultivating a system that will assume responsibility for all children throughout all stages of their education, the program aims to raise the level of student achievement in the Upper Galil region and build a strong support network of educational organizations working in the periphery. Collaboring with the children, teachers and administrators, B’YACHAD strives to create a holistic approach to the education system. The program currently runs over 40 projects in the field, touching thousands of children and young adults throughout the region.