Founder’s Story
Paula Lucas is a powerful testament to resilience, courage and unwavering purpose. As an American expatriate, she spent fourteen years living what many would view as a dream—traveling and residing across Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East after marrying a prominent international photographer. But behind the façade of privilege and adventure was a harrowing reality marked by domestic violence, child abuse, and fear.
In 1999, Paula made a courageous escape from Dubai with her three young sons, then just 4, 6, and 8 years old. The night before their departure, she made a promise to God: if they survived, she would dedicate her life to helping other American women and children facing violence abroad. She has kept that promise every day since.
While living in a domestic violence shelter in Oregon—still homeless, still at risk—Paula founded what would become the first and only organization solely dedicated to serving American victims of domestic violence outside the United States. From these uncertain beginnings, she built a globally recognized support network. Her grassroots efforts grew into Pathways To Safety International, a 24/7/365 virtual crisis center staffed by a dedicated team of 15, serving thousands of Americans each year affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in more than 100 countries.
Even after the U.S. federal government defunded critical programs in 2017 and 2019—programs she tirelessly advocated for—Paula refused to give up. Continuing the mission in its original spirit, she now provides support through a crisis email line, reaffirming her steadfast commitment to serving Americans in crisis abroad, regardless of circumstance or funding.
Paula’s visionary leadership and subject matter expertise have earned her national and international acclaim. She is the recipient of numerous honors, including the National Crime Victim Service Award from the U.S. Department of Justice, The National Caring Award alongside General Colin Powell, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Institute on Violence, Abuse & Trauma (IVAT).
In 2013, she chronicled her extraordinary journey in the memoir Harvesting Stones: An American Woman’s International Journey of Survival—a raw, moving account of her transformation from victim to survivor to global changemaker. It stands as a profound reminder that courage and compassion can endure even in the darkest corners of the world. http://www.harvestingstonesbook.com
Today, Paula continues to lead as a certified life coach and global speaker, helping individuals discover meaning through adversity. She encourages people not only to heal from their challenges but to use them as catalysts for personal growth and transformation—ultimately becoming sources of strength, hope, and empowerment for others.