Born in Yangon in 1985, Cherry Thein studied English, psychology, communications and journalism. She has since contributed numerous articles on vulnerable children to different newspapers and magazines. Having attended a number of Yangon Film School courses including Documentary Directing and Development, Screenwriting, Film History and The Animated Documentary, she began developing a feature-length documentary with fellow YFS student Thae Zar Chi Khaing about young girls living on the streets of Mandalay. Mother’s Burden was her directorial debut.