'Children's Voices' Short Film: An Underage Worker in Myanmar Whose Remediation Programme Gave her New Skills

15-year-old War War Nwe was just 14 years old when she dropped out of school. Her father needed to get medical treatment in Yangon and so the whole family had to relocate and pull their weight financially to cover the costs. Warwar enjoyed going to school and was sad when she couldn't continue with her studies. 

She easily found a job in a garment factory where no age verification was conducted, but after a few months her young age raised suspicion among auditors. When it was determined that she was working more hours than legally permitted for a 14 year old, brand auditors initiated a remediation programme, making it possible for her to resume her studies. She was enrolled in a vocational programme based on her interests. 

At the vocational school, War War Nwe and her friends are given comprehensive training in sewing, and take academic classes in the afternoons to fill the missing gap in their education. “At first, I didn’t have any skills. But now I can make my own clothes, and can sew on buttons. Life has improved a great deal,” she beams.