Salvation Army youth from the Greater Toronto Area have established a Youth Justice League, which exists to promote issues and opportunities around social justice. In their inaugural meeting, they gathered together for a chocolate party and discussed the importance of eating fair trade chocolate.

As the group enjoyed their chocolate fondue, Zoe Fay, Ignite Program Coordinator, stated that “Chocolate makes me sick.” She shared that in many cocoa farms, the workers are child slaves who have been taken from their homes and families to harvest the product that comes to us as a luxurious treat. Children's suffering is the packaging that wraps the treats we enjoy unaware.

In response, Sharon Hann, one of the organizers of the Youth Justice League, introduced the mission and vision of the team. Familiar words of Scripture were interspersed with passionate declarations of the need for justice and the privilege every believer has to be a catalyst for peace. The Youth Justice League states their purpose as:

“Whatever we do, we do it because we love God, and we believe that he requires more from us than simply basking in his love without spreading it around: "And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).

The synergy in the room was evident; the call from God clear. The youth committed to begin/continue/expand their efforts to demonstrate God's great love for all humanity by reaching out to those most in need.