10/05/2026
SMK Lentera: More Than Just a School
(In memoriam of Mr. Arif and Mr. Mardiyono, our longtime SCI volunteers)
Around 2011, we met these two remarkable people. They were the founders of a high school in Kendal, a suburban town about two hours from Semarang, dedicated to underprivileged teenagers and the children of migrant workers.
SMK Lentera (lantern) was more than just a school. It was a place where education meant “recreating educators.”
No, it was not a teacher-training school!
It was a community where teachers became personal mentors to their students, and after graduation, many students stayed on for a period of service as volunteer co-teachers.
In some parts of the country, education is still a luxury. Not every child has access to it. Even when building a school is possible, running one with very limited financial resources is a tremendous challenge.
SMK Lentera had no stable sources of income. Tuition fees were already set very low, and the school was mainly supported by donations. The founder, Pak Arif, even provided his private land for the school.
How could such a school continue to survive? This unique model of community and service became the answer.
A year later (2012), through these inspiring people, IVP Indonesia began a long-term partnership with SMK Lentera. Together with our networks in Service Civil International (SCI), IVP helped connect the school with international volunteers for various projects.
Our first workcamp in Kendal was organized in cooperation with them and supported by students and teachers alike, with volunteers coming from SCI Bangladesh and International Voluntary Service (IVS Great Britain).
Later, tens of students from Hong Kong were sent by SCI Hong Kong, China. Their presence became an important bridge between the students of SMK Lentera and the wider world. The contribution fees from the camp participants were donated by IVP to help build toilets and bathrooms for the school.
On a personal level, Arif and Mardi also became part of IVP’s international journey. Around 2011, IVP sent Mardi to an SCI “No More War” training in Germany. Later, in 2019, Arif joined an SCI training in France. Mardi also participated in several SCI volunteer camps abroad, including in Europe and Hong Kong, with his last participation through IVP being in Germany in 2025.
Unfortunately, SMK Lentera stopped to exist around 2021. Not long after that, Arif passed away in September 2024 after a long illness. And very recently - just a week ago - we suddenly received the news that Mardi had also passed away. Both were, and still are, a great loss to us.
Rest in peace, Pak Arif and Mas Mardi!
Your dedication to education for the poor, voluntary service, and IVP will continue to inspire us. Thank you for all the good you have done for others.
Lentera Vocational School of Kendal
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