Although only 10 years old, she has made it her mission to care for vulnerable people.

“My mum showed me this article about refugees and how they don’t have food or anything. I wanted to help,” she recalled.

In February last year, Eva came up with the idea of organising a food-collection drive in her neighbourhood. Subsequently, she was able to donate much-needed dry goods to Greater Action, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the welfare of refugees in Malaysia.

Last month, she raised RM630 by selling handmade mask extenders and earrings to friends and family. The money was also channelled to Greater Action, enabling the NGO to purchase enough milk powder to feed 20 Afghan babies.

In addition, Eva donated a rack of homemade earrings for the organisation to sell to keep raising funds.

Despite being busy with school and extracurricular activities, she shows a maturity beyond her years by prioritising others over having fun in her free time.

Eva’s mother, Linza, said she is very proud of her daughter’s efforts and, as a family, they have always been involved in giving back to society.

Still, the level of compassion her daughter demonstrates has been a learning experience for Linza, who told FMT: “She shows me how to have more empathy and look at things differently.”

Eva’s father, Rosli, agreed, saying his daughter had always had a big heart. For example, she was just five years old when she started donating her birthday money to animal shelters.

The most recent recipient of Eva’s compassion was a cockroach she saved from being squashed. “She picked it up and talked to it before releasing it outside,” Linza shared with a laugh.

Indeed, while she cares deeply for people, Eva’s true love is animals. She has no fewer than 24 pets at home, including cats, rabbits, fish, a flock of guinea fowl, and a stately white turkey that lives in their garden.

Although Eva’s parents and brothers are happy to help care for her pets, she makes it a point to spend time with them herself. “It makes me really happy to feed and pet them,” she said.

Her first pet was a cat from an animal shelter. She then rescued two more cats and fostered them until they were healthy, but ultimately could not bear to part with them.

She makes sure there is dog kibble in the family car so she can feed strays, and once even hand-fed a baby tree shrew until it was strong enough to be released back into the wild.

Eva was dismayed to learn most stray animals on the streets are killed if they are caught – but she has turned this shock into ambition, deciding she wants to grow up to be a human-rights lawyer who also defends animals as “they don’t have the same rights as humans”.

This desire ties in with her plans to open a no-kill shelter “for every type of animal”, since “it seems a tiny bit unfair if I only do it for certain ones”.

Finally, she would like to have a shop where she sells clothes she designs herself, and has already designated these future earnings towards helping more shelters and refugee organisations.

Eva’s kindness and generosity has inspired her family, her neighbours, and even her schoolmates: her best friend, for instance, has begun donating food and making items to raise funds for charity as well.

Growing up with every need looked after, it would be understandable if children like Eva were out of touch with how cruel the world can be. Yet, there is something in Eva that is drawn to the plight of others.

“Sometimes I feel this urge, like I have to help people,” she said earnestly, setting an example that both young and old can – and should – emulate.