In the heart of Serdang Bedagai, a touching scene unfolded on July 30, 2025. Aslina, a middle-aged woman, couldn’t contain her tears as she expressed her gratitude for the life-changing impact of the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) in Cempedak Lobang, Sei Rampah. Standing just a stone’s throw away from her home, Aslina poured out her emotions, thanking the President for the support that has transformed her daily life. This heartfelt moment was witnessed by Hasan Nasbi, Head of the Presidential Communication Office, North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution, and other local leaders who visited Aslina’s workplace on that Wednesday.
Formerly a homemaker with no income to call her own, Aslina’s participation in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program has brought a new sense of purpose. By helping to prepare healthy meals for schoolchildren in her community, she now contributes to her household income. Normawati, another beneficiary of the program, echoed Aslina’s sentiments with a smile. Grateful for the opportunity to support her husband financially, she described how the job has been a blessing, especially since it’s close to home.
The positive impact of the MBG Program extends beyond housewives like Aslina and Norma. Shinta Ramadana, a 21-year-old woman who had been unemployed, found new hope by joining the program. Assigned to food preparation tasks, Shinta approaches her duties with enthusiasm, working diligently until the job is done. Together, Aslina, Norma, and Shinta represent a fraction of the many women whose lives have been uplifted by the initiative.
According to data from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), over 93,000 individuals have been employed through the MBG Program, operating in 2,378 SPPG units nationwide as of May 28, 2025. More than just providing nutritious meals, the program focuses on empowerment, turning kitchens into spaces of hope and transformation for countless individuals like Aslina, Norma, and Shinta.