PPG Completes COLORFUL COMMUNITIES Project at Hungary Vocational School Serving Special Needs Students

 PPG announced the completion of a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES project at Budapesti Komplex SZC Újbudai Szakiskola, a vocational school in Budapest that provides education and skills training for young people and adults, including students with special educational needs.

PPG completed a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES project at Budapesti Komplex SZC Újbudai Szakiskola, a vocational school in Budapest that provides education and skills training for young people and adults, including students with special educational needs.(Photo: PPG)

The project brought together more than 25 PPG employee volunteers to revitalize key interior spaces throughout the school and create a large-scale mural that celebrates students, learning and future career opportunities. PPG donated more than 700 liters of HERA™ paint by PPG, including Héra Ceramic, which provides excellent scrubbing resistance and washability, along with PROGOLD™ painting sundries to complete the project.

Established in 1973, the school has evolved into a modern vocational education institution offering practical training across a broad range of professions. As part of the Budapesti Komplex Szakképzési Centrum network, the school supports students with learning difficulties and mental health-related challenges through tailored vocational education that helps build practical skills, confidence and social responsibility.

The project involved the creation of a large-scale mural, repainting of interior walls and ceilings, plaster repairs, priming and finishing works, refurbishment of selected metal elements, and other upgrades covering more than 3,300 m² of surfaces. Together, these improvements enhanced the school’s learning environment for approximately 600 students, educators, and visitors.

“For us, school is not only a place for lessons but also a shared space that communicates with our students every day,” said Beáta Bodó, principal of Budapesti Komplex SZC Újbudai Szakiskola. “This mural is about them and the professions they will choose. We hope that whenever they pass by it, they will recognize their own opportunities and see that they belong to a supportive community where everyone contributes to a shared future.”

A centerpiece of the transformation is a 27-square-meter mural located in the school’s atrium. The mural’s central image symbolizes roots, growth and the many directions students can pursue through vocational education. Rather than serving as a decorative feature alone, the artwork highlights the school’s broad range of training opportunities, celebrates different career aspirations and reflects the community built through learning and shared experiences.

“Through the Colorful Communities program, we do much more than repaint walls,” said Walter György, PPG site manager, Architectural Coatings, Budapest, Hungary. “We aim to create spaces that reflect the communities that use them. What makes the Újbuda mural special is that it showcases the wide variety of professions represented at the school. Every leaf on the colorful tree symbolizes an opportunity and a vision for the future.”