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Melons produced in Senegal and sold in COOP supermarkets throughout the country contributed to the construction of a health center in Tassete and a school campus in Keur Diogou.

The idea of allocating 10 cents for every kilogram of Senegalese melon sold in COOP stores was born in 2013. The melons, recognizable by their specific label, "Fair Land," have accomplished two important social works requested by Senegalese villages.

Work on the Tassette Health Presidium begins and April 17, 2015 The presidium is equipped with five beds with toilets for patients, outpatient clinic, doctor's room and in-house pharmacy. It was built to European health standards. Also enriching the facility is an ambulance capable of navigating desert tracks and unpaved roads. The ambulance, a fully equipped long-wheelbase Land Rover is donated to the population in December 2015.

This project was presented at EXPO, Sept. 15, as part of the events scheduled by COOP Italia, by Maura Latini, general manager of COOP Italia, and Msgr. Luciano Giovannetti, president of the John Paul II Foundation.

After the health center was finished, construction of a school was started in 2015 in the nearby village of Keur Diogou, also near the town of Thies.

Local authorities had already identified an area, outside the village, to build the school complex for the more than 600 students in the area. Scarce local funds, however, had only allowed for the construction of a few classrooms. Thanks to the contribution of the "Equal Earth" melons, work started again. The first intervention was the fencing of the entire area to secure the students. After that, construction began on the new classrooms, all of which are double-sized, spacious and have large windows. The old classrooms, which were never demolished, were remodeled both inside and out. Many toilets were built, obviously divided for boys and girls. Both projects were carried out at the direction and request of the local authorities.

With melons for sale in 2020, a third project will begin in a new village, this time near Dakar.