Paint brand gives Indonesian school canteens a fresh coat to stop kids from getting sick

Indonesian schools usually feature open-air dining areas, presenting a specific health risk: flies landing on children and the food they're eating. In the country's hot and humid climate, flies are vectors for diseases like diarrhea, dysentery, typhus and cholera. The issue is especially acute in schools near markets, landfills and other favored breeding grounds. 

A decade ago, entomologists at the University of Florida discovered that flies are repelled by the color yellow. Now, paint manufacturer Dulux Indonesia is leveraging that finding to help schools create a safer dining environment for their students. Following a pilot experiment to confirm yellow's efficacy in repelling flies, Dulux repainted tables, seats and walls in several schools, which led to a notable decline of the insects. 

With Yellow Canteen, developed in partnership with creative agency Innocean, Dulux is rolling out the project to more schools. The response has been overwhelming, so Dulux is prioritizing schools with the greatest need and welcomes sponsors to join the endeavor.