Lucia Raadschelders is a Dutch citizen. In 1979, after experiencing very deep sympathy for the oppressed people of South Africa, she decided to offer her services and work for any anti-apartheid organisation, in her bit to contribute towards fighting against racial segregation. She was recruited to work with the African National Congress (ANC) in 1986 and was based in Swaziland to run a safe-house till mid-1988. From 1988-1992, based in Lusaka, Zambia, she was involved with Operation Vula. She returned to the Netherlands after the unbanning of the ANC, but since 1993 she has been living and working in South Africa.