PPG COLORFUL COMMUNITIES^® program

New Paint for a New Start

A New Paint for a New Start volunteer revitalizes Stichting Nola Hatterman Art Academy in Paramaribo, Suriname.

PPG’s Colorful Communities program has dedicated the month of July 2022 to protecting and beautifying schools around the world with New Paint for a New Start.

To inspire students and teachers as they return to learning spaces after the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have identified educational spaces in need of a bright and beautiful refresh and empowered our employees to carry out revitalizing projects.

What makes New Paint for a New Start so special? Building better, brighter communities starts with students. With New Paint for a New Start, we are harnessing the power of our paint to help classrooms become colorful, engaging and vibrant environments. Most projects will use a unifying global color palette, including Olive Sprig, the 2022 PPG Color of the Year, specifically selected by PPG color experts. Reinforcing our giving priority in education, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) funding will also be granted to several schools.

Vice president, architectural coatings, Latin America, EMEA and ANZ

Henrik Bergström

PPG

Building better, brighter communities often starts with students. We know that many students around the world face educational inequities. When we see outdated classrooms in disrepair, we see our role in creating inspiring spaces that are equipped with the right resources so every student can learn and thrive.

NEW BEGINNINGS

More than 30 schools across our global communities will receive a colorful and transformative makeover. Through our commitment to bring color and brightness to our communities, PPG volunteers will create engaging spaces for students to learn and grow.

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Primed for learning

When students return to Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the 2022-23 school year, they will be greeted with colors that spark engagement. Enthusiastic PPG volunteers beautified four schools across the area as part of New Paint for a New Start.

A guide to colorful classrooms

Most New Paint for a New Start projects utilize a singular global color palette, specifically selected by PPG color experts to elevate physical classroom environments and pair with the learning objectives for each classroom. Learn more about selecting classroom colors.

Download classroom color guide (PDF)

Colors for focus

Volunteers updated classrooms and a relaxation space for more than 3,000 Mendel University students in Brno, Czechia.

Scientific inspiration

At the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, Poland, several chemistry-themed murals now inspire innovation and discovery while greeting university students and visitors.

Preschool play

In Iztapalapa, Mexico, we transformed a preschool into a fantastic place to learn and play. At the preschool, the 35 volunteers painted playgrounds and classrooms.

Colorful learning spaces

In Hong Kong, China about 40 employee volunteers spent more than 160 hours beautifying a primary school and bringing color and vitality to the community where PPG's Greater China office is located.

New school year prep

At Freeport Area High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, our volunteers created fresh spaces for fresh starts this academic school year.

Renewed learning environments

Nearly 200 students at Prakiki School in Paramaribo, Suriname will benefit from a renewed learning environment with freshly painted classrooms and a reconstructed roof.

School pride makeover

We joined the Las Vegas Raiders professional football organization in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA to paint locker room benches, a STEM classroom, and a mural of the school's mascot and anthem at Eldorado High School.

School-wide transformations

At Flora Ferreira Gomes School in Sumaré, Brazil, 11 classrooms, a sports court, a playground, and several walls were repainted by 100 volunteers. A vegetable garden was also renovated with new plants and an environmental-themed graffiti mural.

Chemistry creations

In Verbania, Italy, volunteers refreshed the chemistry area and 9 classrooms at Istituto d'Istruzione Superiore "L. Cobianchi" to support more than 2,000 students.

Transformational colors

A local primary school in Novo Mesto, Slovenia was transformed when volunteers painted 30 classrooms and corridors.

Inspired by nature

Our first Colorful Communities project in Santiago, Chile at the Ciudad de Brasilia school, served 550 students from preschool to high school age and included a nature-themed mural made from a student's drawing.

Outdoor learning

Volunteers at Ecole & College Saint Joseph primary and middle school in Divonne Les Bains, France refreshed classrooms and wooden furniture to create a playground for 120 students.

Exploring the Impact of Color

Through our Colorful Communities program, we’ve witnessed firsthand the impact color and freshly painted spaces can have on students. Painting classrooms with colors specifically intended to enhance learning can improve both students’ and teachers’ experiences in the classroom and increase their feelings of engagement in learning.

Learn more

Color & Design Manager

Kiersten Lent

PPG

PPG understands that color can enhance learning and create spaces where students feel comfortable and encouraged. We carefully selected colors that pair with the learning objectives for each classroom while considering factors including students’ ages and local, cultural influences.

Community Engagement