The Team
Devi Namasivayam - Founder and Chief Executive
Devi founded Sakhi when young women artisans trained at the Life Education Centre (LEC), where she was volunteering, expressed the need for livelihoods. With a love for colors, learning spirit, and a keen eye for details, she became an accidental designer while founding Sakhi. She juggles with design, production, administration, teaching, and coordination of well-being activities. Forever in awe of the infinite human potential, she chose to live and work in the international city of Auroville after quitting her software engineering career. She founded Sakhi with a clear vision that it would not be just another brand that produces and sells rather it would be a journey that enriches humans.
Rajalakshmi Jayamoorthy (Raji) - Executive, Senior Embroideress
Raji is gifted with exemplary embroidery skills. She finds joy and beauty in embroidery and likes the calmness it cultivates in her. She trains new artisans in the craft and also takes care of the tailoring section. Besides doing embroidery, she infuses the team with enthusiasm and positive energy. Raji finds the culture of Sakhi, which combines work, learning, and growth, very rewarding as it has helped her grow.
Vasanthi - Senior Crochet Artisan
Crochet is second nature to Vasanthi and she does it with so much ease. With an ever-present smile, she likes to be challenged with new designs. Vasanthi is proud of turning her childhood hobby of crochet into a livelihood. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration, a rare qualification for an artisan. Her long-time goal is to speak in English to her college-going sons. She never misses English classes at Sakhi.
Rajaveni (Veni) - Senior Seamstress
Veni is an energetic, hard-working, ambitious artisan who possesses valuable sewing skills. Always eager to learn new techniques, she constantly upgrades herself, making her skills more efficient. She wonders about gender inequalities, lack of opportunities for women in the society and courageously voices them. At Sakhi, she is happy about being able to widen her horizons and engage in well-being activities besides having financially rewarding work.
