For the first of Morningside’s annual Service Learning trips, sixteen Morningsiders visited Yangshuo, China to assist local social organisation The Loving Heart with their work. The Loving Heart helps disabled individuals lead more comfortable and fulfilling lives through opportunities like employment in a local bakery greatly enjoyed by the community.

With the assistance of Learn With Dragonfly, a Hong Kong-based organisation that develops educational and outdoor programs for students, Morningsiders spent seven days helping The Loving Heart’s founder Dr. Andrew Chung organise and construct a space that would later be used to teach carpentry skills and build furniture designed for those with disabilities. Students were active participants in the service learning experience, donating their time and energy while learning how to wield hammers and sort nails. They gained new perspectives on what it means to be an able-bodied person and what service can look like on a microlevel.