Interview with Devi Krishna - Hidden Voices NGO Founder

 

Devi Krishna - Founder of Hidden Voices

 Devi Krishna is the Founder of Hidden Voices, a registered non-profit organization dedicated to empowering people with visual impairment and other differently abled. Hidden Voices creates accessible learning resources by converting fiction books, non-fiction books, magazines, and academic textbooks into high-quality audio. The organization also undertakes PDF preparation and accessibility support to ensure content is usable for visually impaired readers. A major focus is making academic books available in regional languages, helping visually impaired students access educational materials that are often unavailable in accessible formats.

Hidden Voices is headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, and has grown into a global volunteer movement with contributors from across India as well as countries including the UAE, the United States, Mexico, and several others. Its founder, Devi Krishna, is a psychotherapeutic counsellor, educator, TEDx speaker, author, and HR professional with over two decades of experience in mental health, education, and disability inclusion. Based in Kochi, she is dedicated to building an inclusive community.

1. Hi Devi Krishna. What motivated you to start Hidden Voices? How and why did you start?

Hidden Voices began in 2019 because of one person who believed in me before I believed in myself. A close friend, Mr. Sudheesh, a visually impaired Higher Secondary Social Science teacher from Malappuram, kept encouraging me to start something of my own. His constant faith in me became the foundation of Hidden Voices.

Through our conversations, I learned that while technology like screen readers, TalkBack, AI tools, and assistive apps have made life easier, academic books—especially complex subjects and regional language materials—remain one of the biggest barriers for visually impaired students.

I started by reading academic books for him and soon realized the enormous effort involved. I often joke that if those readings counted toward my education, I would have earned a gold medal in every subject!

That experience made me realize this wasn't one person's challenge—it was the reality of thousands of visually impaired learners.

2. Did starting out during the COVID-19 period help you find more volunteers? What were the advantages and disadvantages of starting during that time?

Starting Hidden Voices during the COVID-19 pandemic was both challenging and deeply rewarding. Registering the Trust, bringing together committed trustees, and navigating legal procedures without much guidance required patience, perseverance, and determination.

At the same time, the pandemic brought an unexpected opportunity. Many people were looking for meaningful ways to contribute during the lockdown, and volunteers from across the world came forward to read books, review recordings, teach online, and support visually impaired learners.

One of our biggest challenges was building trust and maintaining quality in a completely virtual environment. While many volunteers joined with genuine compassion and a desire to make a difference, others had different expectations.

Devi creates awareness about inclusion at Jain University, Kochi

3. Tell us more about your volunteers and how you onboard and work with them.

Our volunteers are the heart of Hidden Voices. Many discover us through word of mouth. Every volunteer sends a voice sample of their reading. Once found suitable, the volunteer goes through an onboarding process where they are introduced to our reading guidelines, pronunciation, pacing, and the importance of making content truly accessible for visually impaired individuals. They are also introduced to voice recording, audio merging, and audio enhancer apps to do their work.

Hidden Voices Volunteers in Chennai with Devi

We have volunteers who are readers and/or checkers. Quality is at the core of everything we do. Every audiobook is carefully reviewed before it reaches a beneficiary. If a recording has background noise, pronunciation issues, or missing content, we work closely with the volunteer to refine it. This collaborative process ensures that every learner receives the best possible listening experience.

Like every volunteer-driven organization, retaining volunteers over the long term can be challenging, as people often have changing personal, academic, or professional commitments. We are grateful for every contribution, whether it is for a short period or over many years. Volunteering also helps readers improve their communication skills, confidence, and empathy, making it a meaningful journey for everyone involved.

Hidden Voices Vounteers in Mumbai with Devi

4. Tell us more about how Hidden Voices transitioned into an NGO.

Hidden Voices started as a movement in 2019 and was officially registered as a Trust on 11 November 2020. The journey wasn't easy—legal procedures, documentation errors, and limited guidance made the process challenging. Most of it had to be navigated through perseverance and self-learning.

In 2022, Hidden Voices was registered on the Government of India's DARPAN portal, strengthening our credibility and opening doors for future collaborations. Since then, our focus has been on maintaining transparency, building strong systems, and expanding our impact.

For me, an NGO is not built by paperwork alone—it is built by purpose, integrity, and the collective efforts of volunteers who believe in creating a more inclusive world.

5. In how many languages do you read audiobooks now? What are the challenges in expanding to more languages?

Hidden Voices currently creates audiobooks in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Sanskrit, and French (a starter), while also supporting several other languages on request through our volunteer network. Our goal is to ensure that language is never a barrier to education.

The biggest challenge in expanding is finding committed native speakers who can read with accurate pronunciation, fluency, and consistency.

6. Is there something about Hidden Voices that you haven't shared publicly before?

Yes. While most people know Hidden Voices for creating accessible audiobooks, very few know about the emotional and psychological support we provide. As a psychotherapeutic counsellor, I have supported many persons with disabilities who have faced abuse, trauma, loneliness, and the emotional challenges of losing their vision.

One story that deeply moved me was of a visually impaired man from Rajasthan whose identity documents were duplicated and misused without his knowledge. He was wrongly suspected in a criminal case before the truth finally came to light. Watching him struggle to prove both his identity and his innocence was heartbreaking.

These experiences have taught me that disability is often not the biggest barrier—loneliness and exclusion are. Beyond books, our mission is to empower people with confidence, dignity, and independence, helping them rediscover their voice and their place in society.

7. What are the other types of projects you work on for the visually impaired, and how do you reach out to the needy?

Hidden Voices works beyond creating accessible audiobooks. We provide counselling, mentoring, and encourage independent living through everyday experiences like travelling, shopping, cooking, and social participation.

Hidden Voices Listener Manikandan as an RJ in Red FM program 

We reach beneficiaries through referrals from volunteers, schools, colleges, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, community organisations, social media, and word of mouth. We recently had internships with Symbiosis College, SRM, Ramjas, KCI High, Cresent School Dubai, GEMS Kochi, The Choice School, St. Peters and GEMS Our Own English High School, Sharjah – Boys for creating audio. We also had Internships from few other MNC’s.

A visit to Lulu Mall for the visually impaired - https://www.instagram.com/p/DW8trVJiE-w/

8. What is your advice for women entrepreneurs who want to start an NGO?

Believe in your purpose and don't wait for the perfect time to begin. Starting an NGO requires courage, resilience, patience, and integrity. There will be challenges, but every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Lead with empathy, transparency, and accountability. Remember, people don't need sympathy—they need respect, inclusion, and equal opportunities. Success is not measured by awards but by the positive impact you create in the lives of others.

Devi with Mitra Jyothi NGO Founder, Madhu Singhal

9. What are your future plans for Hidden Voices?

Our vision is to grow Hidden Voices into a comprehensive rehabilitation and empowerment centre, offering accessible education, life skills, emotional wellness, career guidance, assistive technology, independent living, and employment support. We also aim to expand our volunteer network, strengthen regional language teams, and build a more inclusive society where accessibility is a right, not a privilege.

We envision a society where disability is never a barrier to success. My biggest learning is that the greatest disability is not the loss of sight—it is the lack of opportunity. When people are given the right support and accessibility, they can thrive. People with disabilities are just as capable as anyone else—they may do things differently, but they can achieve the same goals when given equal opportunities. 

Marathon in Kochi with Visually Impaired and Wheelchair Bound

Did You Know? Devi Krishna has authored a book named ‘Slice of Life’ (available in Amazon) after her elder brother’s demise.  

 

You can reach Hidden Voices here:

Whatsapp Number to apply for Volunteering - +91 8714204851

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiddenvoicescharitabletrust/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiddenvoicescharitabletrust

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenvoices6132

Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/hidden-voices-13b313258/

Website : www.hiddenvoicesindia.org

Email: Support@hiddenvoicesindia.org