In Indonesia, the holy month of Ramadan is not only a time for prayer and reflection for
Muslim believers, but a time for giving and solidarity. As its yearly initiative, i-Sentra
launches its Ramadan Social Service through giving small gifts to villagers. Beneficiaries
of this social service reached thousands of civilians in 4 major villages. Among the
recipients were orphaned children especially in Bluri Village where each orphan received
cash as gifts which gives additional support for children to purchase food, clothing, or other
essential needs. In addition to monetary donations, nearly 3000 gifts were distributed to
Kemantren Village, Sidokelar Village, and Dagan Village. These packages contain
essential food such as rice, sugar, and cooking oil; these basic staples donated are the
backbone of daily meals in Indonesian homes. This exemplifies how the need for nutrition
in young children should be met in order to ensure their health and welfare.
This is especially crucial because childhood is a critical period for physical, and mental
development. The early years of life, especially in children may determine the foundation
for health, education readiness, hence determining productivity for the future workforce.
Without sufficient nutrients, children face a higher risk of sickness, especially stunted
growth. In Indonesia, stunting remains a national health concern, particularly in rural and
lower-income areas, where families often struggle to afford balanced meals. In 2024,
Lamongan itself reported that 2,886 children were still experiencing stunting and 4,124
were still underweight. These donations, while simple, play an important role in helping
families meet their children’s daily dietary needs, especially in times of financial strain such
as Ramadhan. The program showcased how additional efforts from private companies
such as i-Sentra can directly help the government address public challenges like poverty
(SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2).
