Food Bank Indonesia Holds Additional Food Assistance Program for School Children

In 2023, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that Indonesia is one of the countries with The largest population in the world with 278.7 million people. With this population, Indonesia is ranked 77th out of 125 countries with a score of 17.6 which is classified as a moderate level regarding food insecurity and hunger (Global Hunger Index, 2023).

 

Moderate levels of food insecurity have the potential to cause various forms of malnutrition problems that impact the well-being of individuals, including children who are a vulnerable category of society.

 

Foodbank of Indonesia (FOI) is a non-profit organization that was founded on May 20 2015 with one of its missions is to fight hunger in children. In practice, FOI becomes a bridge between communities that have food surpluses and those that lack food.

 

Since 2017, FOI has run the Mentari Bangsaku program, namely an additional food assistance program for school children involving 294 PAUD, 90 elementary schools, 22 Islamic boarding schools, and 13 Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI).

 

FOI encourages schools to ensure adequate food for their students so they can participate in lessons more optimally. Good food at an early age will improve body health, concentration, maintain emotional stability, and optimize brain function.

 

The family is the first gateway to preventing stunting and malnutrition by providing nutritious food for children. However, in practice, children often do not get the nutrition they need to support their growth. This is reflected in the results of the Foodbank of Indonesia survey (2023) in 13 cities/regencies presented by Dr. Risatianti Kolopaking, M.Si, Psychologist,

 

The FOI Expert Council who is also a Psychology Lecturer at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta found that 76.4% of respondents experienced mild food insecurity, 18.2% moderate food insecurity, 5.4% fell into the severe food insecurity category. It can be concluded that overall food insecurity is 23.6%.

 

“Another survey regarding children's breakfast habits shows that 1 in 2 children go to school on an empty stomach. In other words, 50% of children don't eat breakfast when they go to school. As many as 1.3% of children are not given supplies to school. "Instead of breakfast, 12.2% of children are used to being given pocket money of Rp. 5,000-Rp. 10,000 every day to buy snacks at school, so they cannot meet their nutritional needs for their growth and development process," explained Risa at the Foodbank of Indonesia event ( FOI) Media Dialogue: Hunger in PAUD Children on Thursday (7/3/2024) at the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA), attended by the Assistant Deputy for Fulfillment of Children's Rights to Health and Education (KPPPA), Dr. Amurwani Lestariningsih, S.Sos, M.Hum, representatives of Bappenas, Farras Kantias Hady, volunteers, and media.

 

Dr. Risa Kolopaking, member of the FOI Expert Council, explained the results of a survey in 13 cities with PAUD-PAUD respondents participating in the Mentari Bangsaku program, namely an additional food assistance program for school children. Present as a discussant, Prof. Ahmad Sulaiman, IPB professor who is also on the FOI Expert Council.

 

Indonesia. he said, it is estimated that there will be a demographic bonus in 2045. The demographic bonus is an opportunity for Indonesia to carry out development by preparing quality human resources. According to Farras Kantias Hady from Bappenas, the government has formulated the Golden Indonesia Vision through four pillars, namely Human Development and Mastery of Science and Technology, Sustainable Economic Development, Equitable Development, and Strengthening National Resilience and Governance.

 

According to him, health and expanding access to food have also been formulated in the Indonesia Emas development plan so that people receive nutritious, safe and affordable food and are food independent.

 

"The government has made various efforts in terms of human development, one of which is by supporting food and agricultural management programs which will also be prepared in the 2025-2029 RPJMN," explained Farras.

 

On the same occasion, Chairman of the FOI Expert Council, Prof. Dr. Ir. Ahmad Sulaeman, MS. Ph.D. states that society's consumption patterns start from the family. Children's decisions in choosing Food is influenced by family eating culture. On the other hand, the government is also responsible for the welfare of the community through the practice of providing food aid and nutrition programs for school children.

 

Meanwhile, FOI Founder, M Hendro Utomo said that children are used to buying snacks at Schools tend not to be able to meet nutritional intake. If it lasts for a long time, there is a risk of contracting degenerative or non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and so on.

 

“Degenerative diseases cause a decrease in body function and impact a person's productivity. "The state bears the costs of people's degenerative diseases and in 2023 the cost burden will increase to 30 trillion," said Hendro.

 

In this Media Dialogue, PAUD teachers who had run the Mentari Bangsaku Program were also present and conveyed the importance of this program continuing to be implemented and even developed in the future.

 

Furthermore, Hendro explained that schools with group eating activities have an attraction for parents to send their children to that school. “Providing breakfast or lunch for PAUD children is very important for children's concentration while receiving lessons. 44.2% of respondents felt that children's concentration increased and 44% were more active and energetic if they had breakfast regularly. "Food intake and eating patterns are the key to improving the quality of a good generation," said Hendro Utomo.

 

The family, especially the mother as the biggest decision maker in the family sphere, is the key to reducing hunger among children by paying more attention to the food culture and nutritional intake in the family.

 

Schools have an important role in supporting good food and nutrition through literacy and food intervention so that it can reduce the rate of food insecurity in children. Through this dialogue, It is hoped that awareness and commitment will grow to educate the public and inspire multi-sector collaborative movements for a better future for Indonesia.***