Danone Indonesia, LPTNU, UNU Jogja, and UNU NTB Launch Ngaji Gizi Bareng Santri

Mataram, Indonesia – Building a healthy pesantren ecosystem requires more than education. Mentoring, institutional strengthening, and cross-sector collaboration are needed to help translate knowledge about nutrition and health into healthy daily habits.

This approach underpins a collaboration between the Nahdlatul Ulama Higher Education Institutions Association (LPTNU), Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) through its Center for Sharia Finance and Digital Economy (SHAFIEC), Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Nusa Tenggara Barat (UNU NTB), and Danone Indonesia through the Ngaji Gizi Bareng Santri program.

The program, themed “Building a Healthy Pesantren Ecosystem through Strengthening Nutrition and Health Literacy,” was launched at the ATQIA UNU NTB Ballroom on Saturday, August 15, alongside a Pesantren Nutrition and Health Seminar.

The seminar brought together academics, health practitioners, pesantren leaders, Nahdlatul Ulama representatives, and industry stakeholders to discuss ways to strengthen nutrition and health literacy in pesantren. The forum featured health expert from the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Mataram Dr. dr. Ima Arum Lestari, M.Si.Med, Sp.PK., West Lombok Health Council member and Head of Pondok Pesantren Nurul Madinah West Lombok Dr. Buya Muhammad Subki Sasaki, M.H., as well as representatives of PWNU NTB.

Under the collaboration, SHAFIEC UNU Jogja serves as the program's main manager, while UNU NTB acts as the field implementation partner in West Nusa Tenggara.

Pesantren Play a Strategic Role in Adolescent Nutrition Literacy

Strengthening nutrition literacy is increasingly important amid health challenges facing Indonesia's younger generation. Data from the 2024 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI) recorded the national stunting prevalence at 19.8 percent, while the government has set a target of reducing it to 14.2 percent by 2029. Meanwhile, Riskesdas data shows that anemia affects 26.8 percent of children aged 5–14 and 32 percent of those aged 15–24.

Public Affairs and Sustainability Director of Danone Indonesia, Karyanto Wibowo, said adolescent nutrition challenges should be viewed as part of Indonesia's broader human development agenda.

“Adolescent nutrition challenges are not only a health issue but also a human development issue. Pesantren play an important role in shaping young people who are not only morally grounded and knowledgeable, but also healthy and empowered. Through Ngaji Gizi Bareng Santri, together with LPTNU, UNU Jogja, and UNU NTB, we aim to provide nutrition and health education that is easy to understand, applicable, and aligned with pesantren values,” he said.

Secretary General of LPTNU, Dr. rer. pol. Faisal Aminuddin, said cross-institutional collaboration is one of the program's key strengths. The involvement of NU-affiliated universities, pesantren, businesses, and other stakeholders is expected to expand the program's impact.

“This program is an effort to bring together various institutions, partners, and educational organizations that share a commitment to strengthening human resources. We hope this collaboration will go beyond the implementation of activities and produce concrete outputs, including knowledge, models, and program instruments that can serve as a foundation for replication and sustainable development within the NU community,” he explained.

Rector of UNU NTB, Dr. Hj. Baiq Mulianah, M.Pd.I., added that pesantren play a strategic role in shaping both the character and healthy lifestyles of students.

“Pesantren are not only places to build character and strengthen religious education, but also play a strategic role in shaping students' healthy lifestyles. Therefore, nutrition and health literacy needs to become part of the pesantren education ecosystem, while supporting the national agenda of preparing a healthy, intelligent, and high-quality generation,” she said.

UNU Jogja Promotes Research Commercialization through SHAFIEC

Acting Rector of UNU Jogja, Dr. Fahmy Akbar Idries, said UNU Jogja's involvement through SHAFIEC reflects the university's commitment to bringing academic knowledge and applied research to communities.

“For UNU Jogja, this collaboration is part of a strategic effort to translate campus knowledge and innovation into practical applications. Pesantren are an important pillar of the nation's future, and preparing students to compete globally requires intellectual, spiritual, and physical excellence,” said Fahmy.

He added that collaboration between universities, industry, and pesantren can serve as a model for applying research to address community needs. Through SHAFIEC, UNU Jogja has designed the program using a structured, contextual, and evidence-based approach so that its impact can be measured.

Director of SHAFIEC UNU Jogja, Maria Fauzi, said the success of the program should not be measured solely by the completion of its activities, but also by the benefits experienced and applied by its beneficiaries.

“We hope that the Ngaji Gizi Bareng Santri collaboration will become a space for shared learning. The knowledge we develop must be experienced by students, applied in their daily lives, and ultimately provide broader benefits for the Nahdliyyin community,” said Maria.

The Ngaji Gizi Bareng Santri program includes nutrition education, regular mentoring, module development, and institutional strengthening for selected pesantren. Through the collaboration, knowledge about nutrition and health is expected to go beyond individual students and develop into healthy habits involving the wider pesantren ecosystem, families, and communities.

Contributor: Maria Fauzi
Editor: Intan Agisti