The Female Prisoners Welfare Project (FPWP) was established as a voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom in 1986, in response primarily to the lack of advocacy for female prisoners of all ethnic origins and foreign nationals, within the British Criminal Justice System.

As the needs of the women and their families became increasingly evident, HIBISCUS was formed in the UK and Jamaica, under the umbrella of FPWP to ensure as far as possible, that these needs are met. FPWP/Hibiscus Jamaica was established in 1993.

The story of Eva

"Eva Goes To Foreign" was launched in 2002 with a poster campaign and video animation. The purpose of the Eva story is to promote powerful messages against drug trafficking and highlight, in an engaging and thought-provoking way, the consequences of embarking on this course. ‘Eva’ was taken into schools in 2003 and the story continued with “Eva Goes Home”, another poster campaign following the ongoing story of Eva.

Today, the campaign continues with the assistance of the British High Commission and the Allan and Babette Sainsbury Foundation with Eva’s third chapter "Eva Got Smart".

Eva Got Smart

Eva, a single mother of two, had recently returned to Jamaica after serving a prison sentence in the UK for drug trafficking. She had struggled to get her family back together and improve their lives. She retools herself by getting an education and is able to find gainful employment. By sharing her experience at public forums she tries to dissuade others, especially students, from repeating her mistakes and promotes education as the way forward. After working hard and achieving much she is faced with a serious challenge. Her son has a life threatening illness and Eva is forced to once again choose between taking the easy way out (drugs trafficking) or exploring other options to solve her problem. Her choice will determine her future as well as that of her children.

The 2008/2009 Campaign is specifically aimed at primary aged children who are vulnerable to indoctrination on the illegal use of drugs and drug trafficking. This campaign continues to put emphasis on education as the way forward.

This third instalment is accompanied by a very colourful comic called “Eva Goes Home”, with a centre spread featuring a Snakes and Ladder game. Each scene in the game depicts real life experiences that are relevant to the primary school age group and reflects decisions they may have to face. The aim is to counteract, early in children’s lives, the often glamorous depictions they are given of drug trafficking and to inform them of the realities should they chose this path. Choice is a very important aspect of this Eva story with positive choices in education, family and the community being rewarded.

This project has been sponsored by the British government and the third phase was launched on Thursday, October 29, 2008 at the British High Commission in Kingston. The event was attended by members of the press, government officials, social workers and recieved the endorsement of Jamaican Olympian and Olympic 100 metre female champion athlete Shelly-ann Fraser.