The GK Child and Youth Development Congress was successfully held last August 23 at the De La Salle University-Manila campus. Community leaders and subject specialists came together to share their experiences, knowledge, and expertise for the benefit of GK children and youth.

Evangelina Lawas presented the Rights of a SAGIP Child, answering the significant question "How do we protect our children?" including those caught up in such widely prevalent slum-issues as youth crime and drugs. GK community leaders discussed how their communities should interact with authorities in order to achieve constructive outcomes for all.

The second session of the congress focused on the value of education in Gawad Kalinga, highlighting the participation of some of Manila's private schools such as Poveda in aiding the GK children’s education through volunteer tutoring and school group involvement, and the creation of GK's very first grade school at GK Pinagkuartelan village in Pandi,Bulacan.

The Caring Jesus Elementary school in Pandi was built through the generosity of the Pineda family, with son Dino Pineda working with Gawad Kalinga to bring to fruition a vision that started with his grandmother and father who wanted to provide quality education for the poor. With GK Pinagkuartelan housing 650 families, the Caring Jesus elementary school will be opening one new class every year for the next six years, until grades 1 to 6 are provided for the community.

While GK has provided pre-school education through its SIBOL schools, this is the fist instance of elementary education being provided inside a GK community.