The Education and Nutritious Food Movement for Students (GENIUS) activity is part of the intervention efforts against food and nutrition insecurity with the target group, namely primary school-age students. The GENIUS activity aims to increase the knowledge of primary school-age students about nutritious food, as well as maintain and improve the nutritional status of students in order to prepare a quality generation towards a golden Indonesia 2045.
Elementary school-age students who are the target beneficiaries of the current GENIUS activities will become the next generation of productive nations in 2045. Hopefully, this activity will be an effort to improve the quality of Indonesian human resources into a superior generation and as a means to realize the achievement of a golden Indonesia 2045.
Food and Nutrition Socialization and Education was held on Monday (9/10/23) in 5 districts/cities in East Java Province. These districts/cities include Probolinggo City, Kediri, Sidoarjo, Blitar and Tulungagung. This socialization and education activity was attended by parents of students located in each elementary school. In Probolinggo City, the schools were SDN Jrebeng Kidul, SDN Wonoasih 1, and SDN Wonoasih 2. In Blitar, the schools were SDN Karangbendo 04, SDN Sidorejo 05, and SDN Sumberasri 01. In Tulungagung, the schools were SDN 1 Tulungrejo, SDN 1 Tiudan, and SDN 2 Ketanon. In Kediri, they are SDN Tunge II, SDN Tempurejo II, and SDN Sumberagung I. In Sidoarjo, they are SDN Trompoasri 3, SDN Dukuhsari I, and SDN Kedungrejo 2.
This socialization and education activity was accompanied by the provision of nutritious food by eating together at school. The provision of nutritious food was given 20 times with 10 different menus. Food provision accompanied by food education and internalization is an important element that plays a role in encouraging the sustainability of activities and raising awareness of students and parents as a form of awareness of food and nutrition insecurity.
GENIUS activities are carried out through the provision of nutritious food snacks based on animal protein sources such as eggs, milk, and other animal proteins, namely chicken and fish, which are regularly and thematically scheduled during food provision, including the internalization of stop wasting food to elementary school students.
GENIUS socialization and education activities were enthusiastically welcomed by parents of elementary school students in East Java. This is a signal that the community, especially parents, have a good awareness of the importance of the child development process, especially in the elementary school age phase. The parents were very focused on participating in this activity. This GENIUS activity received positive support from the target community, especially for parents and elementary school students. The parents agreed that this activity provided many benefits as well as new knowledge about the importance of nutritional adequacy for children, especially at primary school age.
This socialization and education activity is expected to build public awareness, especially to parents and elementary school students as the nation’s future successors, of the importance of healthy breakfast and snack habits to fulfill the nutrition of the Indonesian population. In addition, this activity is expected to help maintain and improve the nutritional status of elementary school students in order to support the Golden Generation 2045. This good habit also aims to improve the quality of superior human resources in the future which is in line with the concept of sustainable development in accordance with the 2nd SDG’s point which is to end hunger, achieve food security and good nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Author: Arvina Tria Nitami