PPG’s New Paint for a New Start Initiative Transforms Ecole & Collège Saint Joseph School in France

PPG has completed a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES project that helped revitalize the Ecole & Collège Saint Joseph School in Divonne les Bains, France, as part of the company’s New Paint for a New Start initiative. The project brought together more than 30 PPG employees, who dedicated nearly 120 hours painting three classrooms, garden furniture and a specially designed mural.

PPG contributed $51,000 (50,000 euro) to the project, including 32 gallons (120 liters) of SEIGNEURIE paint by PPG, sports equipment and garden supplies.

Founded in Pays de Gex in 2006 and relocated to Divonne Les Bains in 2021, Ecole & Collège Saint Joseph School is an independent institution with 135 students. It is operated by its students’ families and does not receive financial support from the government. As a non-profit organization, it has limited funds for classroom renovations, relying on the help of the students’ parents and the community.

“We are proud and happy to count PPG among our school’s patrons,” said Patrice Bougault, director, Ecole & Collège Saint Joseph School. “The investment and commitment of PPG and its employees allowed us to rehabilitate rooms and outdoor spaces, so our middle school students have space for learning and playing, which was lacking. We are very grateful.”

The project was supported by PPG’s New Paint for a New Start initiative, which is part of the company’s Colorful Communities program. Through the new initiative, PPG employees around the world volunteered their time throughout July to transform more than 25 schools around the world.

The Colorful Communities program provides PPG volunteers and products along with financial contributions to bring color and vitality to communities where the company operates around the world, such as in Divonne Les Bains, where PPG has its European headquarters.

A study by PPG, RAND Corporation and Campos demonstrated that painting educational spaces with colors specifically intended to enhance learning can improve both students’ and teachers’ experiences in the classroom. With this in mind, PPG developed a special color palette for different age groups at Ecole & Collège Saint Joseph School. Volunteers used bold and bright PPG hues, including Summer Sunset (PPG1192-6), Golden Hour (PPG1214-6) and Succulent Leaves (PPG1131-6), which PPG experts describe as colors that promote concentration and focus.

The volunteers also painted a mural designed by renowned artist Philippe Baro that features a dove with an olive branch to depict peace and forgiveness, which are important values taught at the school.

“Building better, brighter communities often starts with students,” said Henrik Bergström, PPG vice president, Architectural Coatings, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Australia and New Zealand, and the New Paint for a New Start executive champion. “We know that many students around the world face educational inequities. When we see classrooms in disrepair, we believe our role is to create inspiring spaces that are equipped with the right resources so every student can learn and thrive. With the evident needs of Ecole & Collège Saint Joseph School and the enthusiasm shown by the school’s staff and our employees, it was clear that our Colorful Communities program could make a real difference to the school.”