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According to Michael Odijie, a scholar from the Center of African Studies at the University of Cambridge, the preferred method of helping West African farmers would be to stop eating as much chocolate. Because Africans don’t consume much chocolate, it would make more sense for these farmers to move toward different crops that don’t have such specific land requirements.
Eat your chocolate consciously: It is unrealistic to give up your favorite sweet treats, but even a few small decisions, such as swapping chocolate for another dessert or supporting a fair trade, higher end chocolate, can have a positive impact.
Spread awareness: Share this information with people in your life. You can ask to be gifted fair trade chocolate rather than Hershey's or Godiva, or simply let others know the story behind their candy.
Support new policies: In the event that legislation comes up surrounding child labor or general ethical production, share your support for the legislation. You can write to your representatives asking them to support labor legislation or prioritize child labor as an issue.
Hold brands accountable: Check your favorite candies and desserts to see where they get their chocolate. Write to your favorite brands telling them that supporting companies with ethical labor is your priority.
No one person can fix this issue, and it is easy to feel helpless. Only by working together and getting to the root of the issues can this be fixed. That being said, don't give up! If this is something you care about, keep caring and talking about it. The change has already started, and making the chocolate industry a public issue will continue it.
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