In Serdang Bedagai, there was a heartwarming scene as Aslina, a middle-aged woman, was overcome with emotion while sharing how her life had been transformed. She now works at the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) in Cempedak Lobang, Sei Rampah, Serdang Bedagai, near her home. Aslina expressed her gratitude to the President for the program that has provided her with a job and hope for the future.
During a visit by Hasan Nasbi, Head of the Presidential Communication Office, North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution, and other local leaders, Aslina stood proud of her newfound role. Previously a homemaker with no income and a husband working as a laborer, she found new purpose in preparing healthy meals for local schoolchildren through the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. Normawati, another beneficiary of the program, also shared her positive experience of supporting her family financially while helping to provide nutritious meals for her children.
The impact of the MBG Program extends beyond housewives, as evidenced by 21-year-old Shinta Ramadana who gained employment after months of being unemployed. She now takes great pride in her work preparing meals for the community, including cutting vegetables, chopping spices, and sorting ingredients. The program has provided opportunities for thousands of individuals, with 93,572 people employed through 2,378 SPPG units nationwide as of May 28, 2025.
More than just providing food, the MBG Program focuses on empowerment and creating spaces of hope in community kitchens. Aslina, Norma, and Shinta are just a few examples of the program’s positive impact on individuals’ lives, highlighting how initiatives like this can make a significant difference.
