By: Sepratian Dwi)*
As the Youth Pledge commemoration approaches, the spirit of nationalism reverberates throughout the nation. Young people are reminded of the importance of unity, hard work, and ambitious aspirations for the advancement of the nation. These values are now being reimagined in various national programs focused on human development in Indonesia. One such initiative is the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG), initiated by the government to strengthen the foundations of future generations by ensuring balanced nutrition. This program is not merely a food policy, but a national strategy to develop superior and globally competitive human resources.
Edy Wuryanto, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), stated that the MBG program has the potential to be a strategic step in improving the quality of human resources from an early age. He emphasized that the implementation of the MBG program must be carried out collaboratively across sectors to ensure its effectiveness. This is to ensure that the MBG program can become a concrete solution to reduce stunting rates and malnutrition, which remain challenges in several regions. By meeting these nutritional needs, children will grow up healthier, more productive, and have the potential to become a superior generation in the future.
Behind the spirit of the MBG lies the philosophy of the Youth Pledge: one homeland, one nation, and one language, which has now been translated into a single goal: building a healthy and intelligent generation for a progressive Indonesia. When the youth of 1928 swore to unite the nation’s identity, they also instilled a determination to fight for a better future. Today, that struggle continues by ensuring that every child of the nation has equal rights to nutritious food. Because true independence means not only political freedom but also freedom from nutritional inequality and poverty of knowledge.
The MBG program is not simply a nutritional fulfillment program, but part of a national strategy to build food independence and local economies. The MBG program also demonstrates the government’s commitment to protecting young people from the threats of stunting, anemia, and malnutrition, which can hinder growth and development and academic achievement. The government believes that efforts to improve nutrition must begin early, especially among students. With adequate nutritional intake, students are expected to be more focused on their studies, have strong immune systems, and maintain mental health.
Meanwhile, the Head of the BRIN Public Health and Nutrition Research Center, Wahyu Pudji Nugraheni, stated that MBG can be a catalyst for improving the quality of life of the community, especially adolescents, because balanced nutrition has a direct impact on their learning concentration and psychological well-being.
Furthermore, MBG is not only a nutritional intervention but also an instrument for social equality. Through the procurement of food from local farmers and fishermen, this program revitalizes the regional economy and strengthens national food security. Furthermore, culinary and catering MSMEs also have the opportunity to contribute to the provision of nutritious food. Thus, MBG creates an inclusive economic value chain from farmers to school kitchens, from kitchens to students’ dinner tables, fostering an ecosystem of mutual cooperation aligned with the spirit of the Youth Pledge.
Indonesia’s young generation today faces more complex global challenges. Competition is no longer just about academic intelligence, but also about physical health and mental resilience. In this context, nutritious food is the foundation of national competitiveness. Healthy youth are able to think critically, innovate, and lead change. Therefore, the MBG can be seen as a long-term investment in developing future leaders who are not only intellectually intelligent but also morally and physically strong.
This year’s Youth Pledge commemoration serves as a moment to reflect that the current generation’s struggle is no longer about taking up arms, but against inequality, ignorance, and malnutrition. MBG exists to ensure that no child of the nation goes to school hungry. By ensuring students’ nutritional needs, the government indirectly instills a spirit of social justice and intergenerational solidarity. This program also serves as a reminder that love for one’s country can be demonstrated through simple means: caring for others and building a shared future through healthy food.
The national spirit of the Youth Pledge teaches that a nation’s strength lies not only in population size or territory, but also in the quality of its people. When the nation’s children’s nutritional needs are met, their thinking, creativity, and productivity will increase. This aligns with the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045, which places superior human resources as the pivot of national development. The Youth Pledge, with all its challenges and potential, symbolizes the nation’s renewed commitment to preparing a healthy, resilient, and character-driven next generation.
Ultimately, the Youth Pledge (MBG) and the spirit of the Youth Pledge share a common spirit: they both emphasize the importance of unity and collective ideals for the advancement of the nation. In the past, youth united against colonialism to achieve independence. Today, youth, along with the government, are fighting inequality and ignorance through the nutritious food movement. By joining hands, all elements of the nation can make the MBG not just a program, but a moral movement to build an Indonesia that is sovereign in nutrition and sovereign in national spirit.
)* Public Policy Observer