KeBAL
Kedai Balitaku (KeBAL) is a healthy food cart operation that addresses issues of malnutrition in Indonesia. The unique social enterprise also provides new employment opportunities in urban, low-income areas.
In Jakarta, 17% of children under 5 are acutely malnourished, while 12% are overweight. Many families in the city's slums lack adequate kitchens, so cheap street food is an unhealthy, but necessary staple. Salty or sugary sweet, and almost always deep-fried, street food is often prepared under less-than-hygienic conditions and doesn't provide the nutrients that growing bodies need.
Since Mercy Corps launched KeBAL in 2009, the social enterprise has grown to include two central cooking centers, 10 franchise vendors and 20 vendors directly employed by KeBAL, together serving four low-income communities within Jakarta.
Thanks to a recently announced strategic alliance with Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials, and investment by Rabobank Foundation, Mercy Corps and its partners will be able to scale the operations in KeBAL to reach thousands more children with healthy, nutritious food. The expansion also solidifies this economically viable social enterprise as a source of opportunity in Jakarta's poorest urban communities.
All stories about KeBAL
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Indonesia: Food carts on a whole new scale December 20, 2012
In Jakarta, our teams found that 17% percent of children under 5 are malnourished, while 12% are overweight.
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Indonesia: Nutrition on wheels December 18, 2012
In the urban slums of Jakarta, kids under five years old are getting enriched, nutritious food from an unusual place: healthy food carts.
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Indonesia: Kid-friendly food carts take on child malnutrition August 2, 2011
The slums of Jakarta, Indonesia are home to some of the poorest families in Asia. The city — one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, with more than 28 million people — has dozens of such places, where thousands of people live cramped in close quarters.
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Indonesia: From Seattle to Jakarta, food carts are hot stuff May 24, 2011
In Seattle, the popularity of food carts has exploded in recent years.
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Indonesia: Bringing healthy street food to Tegal Alur December 27, 2010
“Hi friends! Come to My Child's Café… choose and get various healthy snacks here,” said a catchy jingle that played during over the grand opening of My Child Café and its healthy kitchen in West Jakarta's impoverished Tegal Alur neighborhood.
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Indonesia: "Is it healthy food or not?" July 29, 2010
“Why, lately, has my child been commenting on the food that I cook, asking if is it healthy food or not?” was a mother's question. Yulaita, the principal of Aisyiyah Suka Ramai Kindergarten in Aceh recalls hearing the question — she's also been hearing similar question from her child.
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Indonesia: From pushing a pedicab to steering a healthy food cart May 4, 2010
His name is Gunanto, or Gun for short. He's 32 years old with two school-aged children. His wife works as a laundry laborer in their Jakarta neighborhood and earns 150,000 Indonesian rupiah — about US$15 — per month.
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Indonesia: Lasting change November 7, 2009
Behavior is hard to change. I know. I’ve tried. Even with support, it’s still extraordinarily difficult to change. To learn new skills. To give up character flaws. To be a better person.