Serdang Bedagai, July 30, 2025 — Aslina could not hold back her tears. Standing with trembling hands and eyes glistening, the middle-aged woman recounted how her life had changed. Today, she works at the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) in Cempedak Lobang, Sei Rampah, Serdang Bedagai—just a stone’s throw from her home.

“Thank you, Mr. President, for helping us in our daily lives. We hope this program can continue forever,” Aslina said, her voice quivering between sobs of gratitude.

That Wednesday (July 30), Aslina stood proud as her workplace was visited by Hasan Nasbi, Head of the Presidential Communication Office, North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution, and several other regional leaders.

Previously a full-time homemaker with no income, Aslina’s husband worked as a laborer with modest wages. Life was minimal and without much hope for change. But now, through her involvement in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, she helps prepare healthy meals for schoolchildren in her community.

Normawati shared a similar experience. With a bright smile, she described how meaningful this opportunity has been for her.

“Alhamdulillah, I now have extra income to support my husband. And the job is close to home,” she said while adjusting her headscarf.

Known affectionately as Norma, she is the mother of three children. Two of them are still in school—one in high school and the other in elementary school. Both now receive nutritious meals daily through the MBG program.

“So the children receive healthy meals, and their mother helps prepare them,” she added proudly.

The benefits of the program have not been limited to housewives. Shinta Ramadana, a 21-year-old woman who had been unemployed for several months, also joined the team. She now works in food preparation, cutting vegetables, chopping spices, and sorting ingredients—tasks she carries out with great enthusiasm.

“I usually work from 1 p.m. until we’re done. If we cook at night, we start at 10 p.m. I’m mainly responsible for prep work,” Shinta explained.

Aslina, Norma, and Shinta represent just a few of the thousands of women whose lives have been transformed through the MBG Program. According to data from the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), as of May 28, 2025, a total of 93,572 individuals have been employed through this initiative, working across 2,378 SPPG units nationwide.

The MBG Program is not just about providing nutritious meals—it’s about empowerment. It’s about kitchens that have become spaces of hope.