Ed Hughes, Founder of Tytoo Gardens

Ed Hughes, Founder of Tytoo Gardens

Tytoo Gardens came into existence under the leadership of Ed Hughes.  Ed's personal story is one of a life changed and transformed from a night club builder to one who housed and cared for children in need.  

While building the nightclub in Simonette, dozens of children would gather outside the iron gates during the day.  Ed saw how hungry and desperate they looked and he eventually began offering them peanut butter sandwiches.  Those first acts of kindness grew.  Before long, his life was completely focused on the welfare of the children and not the business of running a nightclub.

Through experiencing Jesus and being transformed by the gospel, Ed became totally devoted to the children’s welfare and the orphanage.  Tytoo was what the children called him (which they believed was his real name, as it was painted on his sailboat that brought him to Haiti).  Ed’s dedication to the orphanage was relentless as it grew to accommodate more and more children.

It was not long before the reality of living in a lawless land struck home.  In November 2005, his arm was shot off and he was left for dead by the side of the road.  Eight months later, in June 2006, he was kidnapped, ransomed, and later released.

Ed died tragically in 2009 while serving at Tytoo Gardens, but his legacy continues today.  With Ed's passing, the ministry has continued to operate, with each year bringing new growth, challenges, and opportunities.

Today, Tytoo Gardens Children's Foundation is part of a number of Haitian charitable initiatives. It is now operated in partnership with Touch of Hope, whose personnel and financial resources were instrumental in the establishment of the new school in Simonette.

* Source: www.tytoothemovie.com/about-the-film

* To learn more about Ed's life story, be sure to check out Tytoothemovie.com 

* A 30-minute documentary on Ed Hughes entitled, "Ed - The Heart of a Servant"