11 August 2024
Fifty students from Gadjah Mada University’s (UGM) Community Service Program (KKN), in collaboration with Harita Nickel, initiated a healthy cooking contest in Madaong Village, Labuha, South Halmahera. Held at the Village Hall on August 10, 2024, the competition was especially unique as participants were required to utilize Labuha’s main natural resource, nutrient-rich tuna.
Women from six neighborhood associations in Madaong Village enthusiastically participated, competing to showcase their culinary skills and creativity. The dishes were judged based on their nutritional content, taste, and presentation.
This educational activity, presented in a fun and engaging way, increased awareness among the community, especially mothers, about the importance of nutrition for children's health. It also highlighted that local cuisine plays a vital role in preparing a smart generation for the future.
It is worth noting that 100 grams of tuna contain 24-30 grams of protein, which is essential for children's growth and development. Additionally, tuna is rich in Omega-3, which helps maintain immune function and supports brain development in children.
“Harita Nickel believes that by supporting initiatives like this, we are making a sustainable investment in the youth of North Maluku. We also recognize that we cannot move forward alone, and collaboration across institutions is necessary, as we’ve seen today,” said Joseph Sinaga, Corporate Affairs Superintendent of Harita Nickel, who attended the event and acted as one of the judges.
The Head of South Bacan Subdistrict, Nasrudin Hasan, expressed his gratitude to Harita Nickel and UGM for organizing the cooking competition, which aimed to reduce the stunting rate in the area. During the event, the winner of the contest was also honored with the title of Balanced Nutrition Ambassador.
“We appreciate that through this event, the potential of local resources and culinary wisdom can be preserved, and even contribute to reducing stunting in Madaong Village,” Nasrudin stated.
He also hopes that this collaboration will continue and expand to reach other villages.
In addition to the healthy cooking competition, the UGM KKN student group also distributed vitamins at the Integrated Health Service Post (Posyandu) in Madaong Village and provided iron supplements to female students in several schools in Labuha.
“In terms of health and social activities, we also assist Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in obtaining halal certification and passing Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) tests,” said Diah Ayu, a KKN participant from the Faculty of Animal Science.
“We also organized an Edufair aimed at inspiring the children of South Halmahera to pursue higher education. We look forward to welcoming you to UGM!” Diah Ayu concluded.
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