From Stranger to Family: The Story of Jenny and Pet-King

Some relationships start with a signature on a form. Others begin with a moment that forever changes your heart.

For Jenny Tuntevski, her Hands journey began in 2012 with a visit to Baan Tharn Namchai (BTN). “A friend suggested we visit,” Jenny shares. “We instantly fell in love with the children and staff. Sponsoring became an easy decision after that. We would’ve sponsored all the kids if we could!”

Among the children she met was a young boy Pet-King. At the time, he was just a child, one of four siblings. His mother worked at a Bangkok bus station selling tickets, struggling to support her family. With limited time, income, or capacity to care for all her children, she made the difficult decision to ask Hands to take in Pet-King and his stepbrothers — giving them safety, food, and access to education.

For Jenny and her family, that moment of connection with Pet-King would spark a bond that has only grown stronger over the years.

“It’s grown our family immensely,” she says. “The letters, the updates, the visits — we’ve watched him grow from a young boy into the young man he is now. It’s incredibly special to feel like he’s part of our family.”

Now 19, Pet-King is thriving. He’s studying Sports Science and Exercise at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University and still loves playing football. But for Pet-King, the impact of sponsorship is about more than just education — it’s about knowing someone is in his corner.

“My sponsors are very important to me,” he says. “They support my studies and so many parts of my life. I feel very happy when I receive letters — they bring me joy and encouragement. Their support helps me live a better life and become a better person.”

Jenny reflects on this with a full heart: “What we’ve learned through knowing Pet-King is just how much impact sponsorship can have. It’s more than money. It’s love, belonging, and opportunity.

From that first meeting in 2012 to today, Jenny and Pet-King’s story is a testament to what’s possible when strangers become family — when compassion is backed by action, and when a child is told: You matter. You belong. We believe in you.

This Christmas, we celebrate the bonds between sponsor and child — and the lifelong impact it brings to both. If you’d like to see for yourself how rewarding this type of sponsorship can be, for just $110 a month we can help make that happen.