PPG Completes COLORFUL COMMUNITIES Project at School for Children with Special Educational Needs in Slovenia

PPG announced the completion of a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES project at Osnovna šola Dragotina Ketteja, a primary school for children with special educational needs in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. The project brought together more than 50 volunteers from PPG, the school, local community and partner companies to revitalize interior spaces at the school.

PPG provided a grant of $71,000 (62,000 euros) to support the project, including approximately 265 gallons (1,000 liters) of SIGMA COATINGS™ paints by PPG. Products include Sigma Coatings Contour Aqua PU Gloss paint, a premium scratch-resistant waterborne enamel designed for wooden and metal surfaces, and Sigma Coatings Sigmatex Superlatex, an emulsion paint with a durable gloss finish

Volunteers from PPG, the community and partner companies carried out a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES to revitalize a primary school for children with special educational needs in Slovenia.

With the support of a professional painting contractor, volunteers repainted approximately 6,000 square meters of corridors, classrooms and shared spaces. The project included surface preparation, wall repairs and repainting, as well as the refurbishment of door frames, wooden surfaces, railings and other interior elements.

Topdom, one of Slovenia’s leading suppliers of roofing systems, construction materials, facade solution, and insulation products, helped bring the project to life through a donation of painting tools and protective supplies. The company is a local distributor of PPG brands, including Sigma Coatings and GORI™.

“This project has transformed our school environment into a brighter, more welcoming and supportive place for our students and staff,” said Vida Marolt, principal of Osnovna šola Dragotina Ketteja. “The refreshed interiors will contribute to a more pleasant learning environment while supporting the well-being, confidence and development of our students. We are grateful to PPG, Topdom and all the volunteers whose dedication and teamwork made this meaningful improvement possible.”

Osnovna šola Dragotina Ketteja supports pupils with developmental, cognitive and learning challenges through adapted educational programs and a structured environment tailored to individual abilities. Its approach focuses on building independence, strengthening social skills and creating an inclusive atmosphere where students can develop with confidence. The project is expected to positively impact more than 500 students, teachers and staff members.

The refreshed interiors have been designed to improve durability, hygiene and the overall visual quality of the school environment, featuring a color scheme combining bright white surfaces, warm accent tones and muted natural green details to create a balanced and supportive atmosphere tailored to the needs of students with special educational needs.

“At PPG, we believe that thoughtfully designed environments can have a positive impact on learning, well-being and community connection,” said Dejan Stepanovski, PPG Optima Solutions site manager, Automotive OEM Coatings. “We are proud to work alongside our partners and volunteers to support Osnovna šola Dragotina Ketteja and help create spaces that will serve students, teachers and staff for years to come. This project demonstrates what can be achieved when businesses, schools and communities come together to make a lasting difference.”

The Colorful Communities program, PPG’s signature initiative for supporting communities, aims to protect and beautify the neighborhoods where PPG operates around the world. Through the program, PPG’s committed volunteers contribute their time and PPG paint products to help transform community assets – from painting classrooms to bringing color to a maternity ward and redesigning a playground. Since 2015, PPG has completed over 635 Colorful Communities projects, impacting more than 10.3 million people in over 50 countries.

PPG’s global community engagement efforts and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We invested $18.1 million in 2025, supporting 400+ organizations across nearly 30 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow tomorrow’s STEM innovators and skilled workforce in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Plus, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more here.