Saridhona Canteen: Pay as you wish, eat as you want
Jatinangor, March 28 – A bustling atmosphere filled Bale Wilasa I Dormitory of Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad), Jatinangor, Sumedang. Inside the dormitory, the corridor was filled with several groups who were discussing and the photocopy place was full of students who were busy printing assignments.
However, the most crowded place inside the dormitory is the Saridhona Canteen, a simple canteen located on the left side of the dormitory, filled with rows of chairs and tables with a bamboo fence half the height of an adult.
The front of the canteen has rice and a row of side dishes such as fish, vegetables, eggs, and others. Not far from the rice bowl, there is a tin box, plus a basket of dirty dishes and a trash can on the left side of the canteen.
This canteen has the slogan “Eat as much as you want, pay as you wish”, where anyone who eats in this canteen, can eat as much as they want by putting money into the kencleng (money box) as much as they want.
One of the students, Iman Taufik Ramadhan, says that the canteen is very helpful for students, especially since it is located near the dormitory of Bidikmiai students who are financially disadvantaged. He hopes that the Saridhona Canteen concept can be followed by other campuses and communities. This is because the canteen is a helpful place for people who need good nutritional intake.
In addition, Director of Academic Resources and Library of Unpad, Yan Muda Iskandarsyah reveals, this canteen is the second canteen after the establishment of the first canteen at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). He said that the canteen was the result of an initiative from ITB graduates. The first time was at ITB and was successful, then this canteen was established at Unpad, after a conversation with one of the donors who is a friend of the Chancellor of Unpad.
As a first step, the canteen was set up in Bale Wilasa I. In terms of location, Bale Wilasa I is not profitable in terms of business, because its location is far from the center of the student crowd. However, Unpad chose the location due to the readiness of the place. Another consideration is Bale Wilasa as a dormitory that accommodates female Bidikmisi scholarship recipients who come from underprivileged families. If the disbursement of scholarships from female students is not on time, they have difficulty eating.
With this canteen, it is hoped that the nutritional needs of the students will be met, with the payment of food made sincerely.
The Meaning of Saridhona Canteen, Yan explains that this canteen is not just a place to eat. There are various meanings conveyed, ranging from educating, learning to share, to discipline.
“This canteen teaches people to help each other. People who don’t have money can pay whatever they want. Meanwhile, those who have enough can buy more or make donations in other forms,” he said.
Another meaning is discipline, where there are procedures for eating at the Saridhona Canteen. Students or visitors will be given a kind of plate with banana leaves to take food. Although they can eat as much as they want, students are encouraged to eat in moderation, so that no rice or side dishes are wasted.
After eating, visitors can fill the kencleng (money box). After taking food, visitors can fill the kencleng as much as they want and they can take their change by themselves from the kencleng.
Visitors are also encouraged to clean up their own leftovers, put garbage in the trash can, and store dirty plates and glasses in the spaces provided.
“The portion of food provided temporarily is 100-120 servings every day, according to the current budget. And even that is before it has run out in the noon,” he says.
Writer: Yohanes William Ivakdalam
Translator: Jauza Maryam Mumtazah
