Japan Ready to Assist Indonesia in Implementing Free Lunch Program
- Pixabay/jelly
Jakarta – The Japanese government has created a special invitation to Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto to discuss the free lunch program for school students.
Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, Masaki Yasushi, stated that his country is ready to assist Indonesia in implementing the program.
Furthermore, the Japanese government plans to invite the Indonesian government to discuss the program in September 2024.
"We will invite the Indonesian government to Japan, specifically regarding this topic (free lunch) to discuss what they can expect from Japanese schools," Yasushi said on Monday.
Prabowo Subianto dan Gibran Rakabuming Raka
- Istimewa
Yasushi explained that the free lunch program in Japanese schools has been running for over 100 years. This initiative was part of Japan's efforts to improve children's nutrition post-war.
He also mentioned that the free lunch program helps poor families provide nutritious meals.
Yasushi then emphasized that the Japanese government could support Indonesia by sharing their experience as a country that runs a free lunch program.
One key aspect highlighted is the importance of education about food and nutrition.
"Children need to understand the importance of choosing the right food and nutrition every day," Yasushi remarked.
He added, "This has been part of our efforts to ensure schools provide education about nutrition. This will be very beneficial for the Indonesian people,"
The free nutritious lunch at schools is one of the flagship programs initiated by Prabowo Subianto along with the Vice President-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The program is set to start in 2025 and will be implemented gradually.
