That morning, the community hall of the hamlet Kadibeso in Argodadi, Sedayu, Bantul felt more alive than usual. The sky, which was beginning to clear, blended with laughter and banter filling the air. Here, the students of the Community Service Programme (KKN) of UNY together with the Argodadi Pinilih disabled community gathered in an activity entitled “A Day of Learning and Exchanging Feelings.”

But the event was not just a ceremonial affair. It became a warm meeting space between students and community members — a place where everybody could learn to understand each other without barriers. Among the participants was Marsini, a mother of Muh Isnan — a child with a nerve condition who has become her source of life’s spirit. Slowly but surely, she participated in each segment of the event, interacting with the students and other participants.

Although Isnan was not present that day, Marsini carried his spirit in every one of her smiles. She painted a simple bag for Isnan. With colourful paint and a brush, she drew a picture of a basket on the surface of the bag. That painting, she said, symbolises a mother who is always the place for her child to vent and take refuge. “I want my child to be happy, to have a bag made by his mother. Inside that painting of a basket, I want to convey that mother is the place her child comes home to,” she said with emotion.

That bag she made especially for Isnan — not just as an object, but as a hug manifest in the form of a work. Marsini’s story became a reflection of the spirit growing in Kadibeso that day: that inclusivity is not just a word, but small acts born from the heart.

Meanwhile, the KKN UNY students immersed themselves in this meaningful activity. They invited community members to draw together, and to exchange life stories. Through this meeting, the students learned about empathy, patience, and how to see the world from a broader perspective.

Erdea Madisa, one of the KKN participants, admitted that the day became a memorable experience. “I am very happy this programme related to people with disabilities could be carried out. Many things I’ve never felt before; today really opened my eyes,” she said on Friday (7/11/25).

Interestingly, the bags used in the activity were the handiwork of Diva Syalaisa Syafina and Herman Makruf, students of Fashion Education. They stitched the bags themselves with the help of the entire KKN-M Kadibeso team. The bags became a symbol of collaboration and dedication — the result of craftsmanship that united creativity and concern.

The Chairman of KKN UNY Kadibeso, Fadhli Harbiy Sentana, described the activity as a concrete form of social learning for students. “We’re not only learning to serve, but also learning to listen. From the community, we understand that diversity is strength,” he explained.

The companion of the Argodadi Pinilih disabled community, Waris, also gave his appreciation. “I am thankful that UNY’s KKN cares about the disabled community. They came not to give, but to learn together. Also not to preach, but to grow together. They came with heart,” he expressed.

When noon approached and the event ended, no one truly left without taking something home. The students took home lessons about empathy, the community carried new enthusiasm, and Marsini brought home inspiration to keep creating for her child.

From the hamlet of Kadibeso, that small story echoed as a big message: that in every difference, there is always space to grow, to understand each other, and to create beauty together.