By: Hamdan Hamedan
An interesting point from the ‘State of School Feeding Worldwide 2022’ report by the World Food Programme (WFP) is that the free school lunch program has assisted over 418 million students globally, in at least 76 countries.
Moreover, this initiative can be described as an “economic engine,” having created around 4 million jobs.
In Indonesia, there is significant potential for enhancement.
WFP data indicates that the program’s coverage in Indonesia is still relatively minimal, similar to several countries in Southeast Asia and Africa.
Viewed through a half-full lens, this actually signifies a great opportunity for progress.
Especially since a 2017 WFP study found that free school lunches improve participation and educational quality, particularly for girls, and represent a strategic step towards reducing poverty and economic disparity.
Indonesia has in fact been implementing various free school lunch programs since 1997.
In the context of Islamic boarding schools, for example, such programs have been conducted for decades, even centuries, by the kiai/nyai (may Allah reward them abundantly 🤲).
From 1997 to 2000, the Ministry of Education and Culture ran the Supplementary Feeding Program for School Children, reaching 2.3 million students outside Java and Bali.
From 2005-2010, WFP implemented the WFP School Feeding (Fortified Biscuit) program, benefiting approximately 800,000 students in NTT, NTB, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi, Aceh, and Jabodetabek.
WFP has demonstrated that every dollar invested in this program can generate an economic impact up to nine times greater.
This does not even include the potential to create 1.8 million jobs in Indonesia—a figure that cannot be ignored.
With this, I believe that every plate of food in schools can open the door to a brighter future for Indonesian children and create new job opportunities. Hopefully.
Source : Free Lunch in Indonesia (Part 3)
