What may be just a smashed window or a graffiti wall to you is actually a sign to the community in which they exist, a sign that nobody cares, so it’s open season for vandals and defacers. Dulux understands the power of colour and is inspiring and uplifting communities around the world through its Let’s Colour Project. Donna Verrydt pulls on an overall and brushes through the details…

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani became a national hero when he adopted the “broken windows” theory – a philosophy of socio-scientists James Wilson and George Kelling. In a nutshell, the theory presents the idea that the appearance of disorder begets actual disorder and that any sign that a neighbourhood is neglected or “unwatched” becomes a breeding ground for serious crime. As Kelling and Wilson put it, “One unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing.”

To stop this downward social spiral, Kelling and Wilson appealed to authorities not to wait for assaults and murders to happen but to focus on the smaller things and repair the first broken window – literally and metaphorically.

While the basis of the broken windows theory is good and for good, critics still questioned whether one broken window really had any relevance to major crime and whether the police force should waste their time on “house keeping” when people are being murdered!

Giuliani hit back with statistics. He claimed that based on the implementation of this theory, New York City’s crime rate plummeted during his administration. He claimed that by “fixing broken windows” and rectifying other smaller issues, overall violent crime was cut in half and that the murder rate actually decreased by a heart-stopping 70 percent. Once the crime capital of the United States, New York became the safest large city in the country and remained so for six consecutive years.

This fix-up-for-good initiative has given rise to another project, but instead of windows, we’re talking paint. Enter Dulux’s global Let’s Colour Project, which was launched in March last year.

Dulux believed that by enriching the physical surroundings of people through colour, lives would become more inspired and enriched. Community leaders from Brazil, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, India, Turkey, Botswana, Swaziland and South Africa worked closely with Dulux to earmark areas that were in need of upliftment. These included local schools, streets, homes and town squares.

Alongside Dulux staff members, local residents and businesses rolled up their sleeves to add some colour and make a difference.

Community members have already told of the positive colour effect in their area. They reveal there is a definite increase in neighbourhood pride and even claim to feel safer. So inspiring is the change that residents have even been inspired to take the initiative into their own homes – painting and fixing up their own space. But it is the community spirit that has grown most from the project. Neighbours have come together, are talking more – and together they’re doing their bit for the community, which in turn has offered the children the gift of community spirit. Not bad for a lick of paint!

Lapa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In Rio de Janeiro, a local artist recommended the beautiful Lapa stairs for painting. The team went in and not only coloured the stairs but went on to do areas around the stairs, homes and a hotel lobby too. The project has not only been appreciated by the residents but by the numerous visitors to the area too.

Aulnay-sous-Bois, Paris, France

A neglected and dull Parisian council estate that was affected by the 2005 riots was selected for a makeover when overwhelming interest was shown by the community. More than 50 community members committed to reclaiming their surroundings with colour. The Let’s Colour Project had such an impact that after the project was finished, local residents hosted their own painting events in other areas.

Tower Hamlets, London, UK

Virginia Primary School in Tower Hamlets, London was the lucky beneficiary. Together, parents, teachers and children transformed the school’s playground, hall and classrooms with vivid colour. The transformation was met with enthusiasm and joy, particularly from the children who helped document the painting party.

Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Jodhpur in Rajasthan in India is also known as the Blue City due to the blue-painted houses around the Mehrangarh Fort. But over time the blue had dulled and lost its inspiration, so the Let’s Colour Project went in and uplifted the blue colour and added shades of purple and pink. The city is now a little more vibrant.

South Africa

South Africa’s roll out of the Let’s Colour Project was a hat trick as it transformed areas in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Atamelang Primary School in Soweto received a paint-over as did Cape Town’s iconic Theatre in the District and Durban’s Ekuphileni House for displaced people.


Get your Brush On!
Anyone interested in the project can get more details from www.dulux.co.za or join them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LetsColourSA. Or simply change your surroundings for the better by grabbing a brush and a tin of Dulux paint and apply a bit of sunshine to your – and your community’s – life.