Justees offer just rewards for Cambodia's marginalised

A Cambodian-based T-shirt company is providing training and hope in a bid to make sustainable change.

Australian Dave Bryce co-founded the business in 2009 after recognising a lack of support for at -risk teenage boys in Cambodia.

Justees is a sustainable, social enterprise, whose core business is to prints t-shirts with justice messages and custom printing orders which are sold in Cambodia and around the world.

Dave said the business was launched with $350 investment between himself and Kiwi co-founder Steve Tripp.

He said between them they had skills in screen-printing, business and youth work, which laid the foundation for starting the business.

“It’s very cheap to start a business here. The place we were renting was only about $50 a month,” he said.

Dave said the business started with seven boys from a rehab program, but the early days of the operation weren’t easy.

“It was difficult in the first few years because the boys wanted to muck around a lot,” he said.

“They didn’t want to work hard or produce quality shirts, so I felt like a bit of cop all the time. But since then, we’ve been able to develop a great work culture.”

Dave said the business operated using a BAM model where they were focussed on looking after their staff, while caring for the environment and trying to make a profit.

“We use as little chemicals as we possibly can in making the T-shirts. We look after the health of our staff, and we have good conditions with fans and air-conditioners.

“They are all paid a fair wage for work.”

Dave said the business also had weekly devotions and had a partnered with a local pastor who mentored the boys.

He said in devotions they explored ‘rubber hits the road’ issues that were impacting the boys.

“A huge part of work is giving the boys work skills and life skills so that they’re equipped to get jobs in the future and to be a good worker for a future employer.”

He said the business only operated two days each week and was split into morning and afternoon shifts to support the boys in the schooling.

For students who are successful in getting into university, Justees supports them with a half scholarship, with the students paying off the other half through their wages.

“The business provides disadvantaged youth with a wage to assist them continuing their schooling, future schooling or university.”

Dave said Justees development had been grounded in prayer.

“We prayed a lot when we didn’t have orders. But we’ve always been able to make a small profit every year. We’ve never taken donations,” he said.

Dave said the business was open to taking orders from Australia for businesses, youth groups or churches.

For more information on Justees go to www.justees.org