As part of its strong social responsibility, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) has developed various sustainable programs to prevent and alleviate hunger among students, ensuring access to nutritious, affordable, and balanced meals for the entire academic community.
Every campus canteen at UNNES offers nutritious menus such as nasi goreng, soto, nasi pecel, gado-gado, sayur bayam, tumis kangkung, capcay, and tofu or tempe dishes as plant-based protein sources. Priced between IDR 8,000–15,000 (USD 0.50–0.90) per portion, these meals ensure that all students can afford healthy food every day.
To further support student welfare, UNNES provides free iftar meals during Ramadan and distributes around 2,000 qurban meat packages from sacrificial donations during Eid al-Adha, benefiting both students and the surrounding community.
Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) continues to demonstrate its strong social commitment to student welfare through the Program Jumat Berkah (Friday Blessing Program). Through this initiative, UNNES aims to ensure that no student goes hungry.
The program is realized by distributing free nutritious meals every Friday to UNNES students. It is implemented collaboratively by various work units within the university. Through this spirit of cooperation, an average of 2000 nutritious meal packages are distributed each Friday to students across campus.
Program Jumat Berkah is carried out jointly by several faculties and institutions within UNNES, including the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Faculty of Engineering (FT), the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), and the UNNES Women’s Association (Dharma Wanita Persatuan/DWP).
Collaboration
FEB and LPPM regularly organize Program Jumat Berkah activities by distributing meals to students, typically in front of the FEB building and the LPPM office. Meanwhile, DWP UNNES provides free meals at the Rectorate Mosque, and the Faculty of Engineering distributes meal packages in the form of iftar meals during the month of Ramadan.
This cross-unit collaboration makes the Program Jumat Berkah a platform for synergy among the academic community, staff, and women’s organizations at UNNES. It not only ensures that no student experiences hunger, but also promotes better nutrition and health on campus.
The Chairperson of the Dharma Wanita UNNES, Mrs Karniti S Martono stated that the program is expected to not only support students economically but also foster a spirit of social awareness within the university environment.
“Program Jumat Berkah is a form of gratitude and care. We want to make sure that no UNNES student studies on an empty stomach,” she said.
UNNES’s Consistent Social Commitment
In addition to the weekly Program Jumat Berkah, UNNES actively organizes other meal distribution and food-sharing initiatives. During the holy month of Ramadan, UNNES provides free iftar meal packages, while during the celebration of Eid al-Adha, the university distributes sacrificial meat packages to students and surrounding communities.
In 2024, UNNES successfully collected 16 sacrificial animals, consisting of 9 cows and 7 goats. From these, approximately 2,000 packages of sacrificial meat were distributed to local residents and students.
UNNES Rector, Prof. Dr. S. Martono, emphasized that these social programs reflect the university’s core values of conservation and social care, which are central to its identity.
“UNNES is committed to creating a campus environment that is not only intellectually excellent but also caring, empathetic, and compassionate,” he affirmed.
Through these initiatives, UNNES continues to strengthen its role as a socially responsible and humane university, ensuring that every member of its academic community thrives in both mind and body.
