LALOU

What LALOU does

Lakou NFP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2017 by Randy and LaNae Meyer, that operates a three-year commercial construction apprenticeship program in Les Cayes, Haiti. Its mission is to create employment opportunities for Haitian citizens through vocational training and job creation, targeting a labor market in which more than 66% of citizens hold no formal job. The program delivers classroom instruction in construction mathematics, blueprint reading, tool use, and material handling, paired with hands-on paid job-site experience through an Earn & Learn model and a social-enterprise arm that completes real construction contracts. A distinctive technical component is its curriculum in earthquake- and hurricane-resilient building methods; all eight structures built by the first cohort survived the 2021 Les Cayes earthquake without damage.

The organization's revenue mechanics rely entirely on individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and construction-contract fees; programs are delivered free of charge to participants. Go-to-market is community-led in Les Cayes, supplemented by digital donor acquisition through the Lakou.org website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and email. Core customer segments are unemployed and underemployed Haitian citizens (primary, served free of charge) and corporate/individual donors (secondary, paying for impact). Strategic anchor partners include Illinois Tool Works, Sun Valley Masonry, Msaada Architects, Earthlight Technologies, Meyer Guild, Nouvelle Aube, and Agape Flights, several of which have board representation. An additional Foreman Training Program extends the curriculum into supervisory roles. Leadership transitioned in April 2024 when Dave Haracz moved from board chair to Executive Director; Co-Founders Randy Meyer (Head of Haiti Operations) and LaNae Meyer (Director of Strategic Partnerships) remain active. Lakou holds 2026 Candid Platinum Seal and Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating, indicating strong financial transparency, and reports 84% of first-cohort graduates placed in full-time commercial construction roles.

Name

LALOU

Legal name

Lakou NFP

Website

https://lakou.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lakou NFP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a three-year commercial construction apprenticeship program in Les Cayes, Haiti, serving unemployed and underemployed Haitian citizens with free vocational training in disaster-resilient building techniques, funded by donations and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Construction Apprenticeship

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs (BPADABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Education Access & Quality (International Development) (BPAGABAE), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Vocational training programs
• Construction apprenticeship education
• Disaster-resilient building training
• Nonprofit educational services
• Workforce skills development

Headquarters

HQ city

Les Cayes

HQ country

Haiti

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Non-profit organization funded primarily through individual contributions and donations from supporters worldwide
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with corporations seeking to support vocational training in Haiti through sponsorship packages including logo placement, product showcases, and social media recognition
3. Social Enterprise Construction Contracts: Revenue generated through commercial construction contracts where participants gain hands-on experience while completing real-world building projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lakou NFP is a nonprofit educational organization operating a free three-year commercial construction apprenticeship program in Les Cayes, Haiti. The program provides hands-on vocational training in commercial construction with emphasis on disaster-resilient building techniques, equipping Haitian participants with skills for skilled employment in the construction industry through a combination of classroom instruction and real-world construction site experience.

Product overview

Lakou NFP is a non-profit educational institution offering a comprehensive three-year commercial construction apprenticeship program in Les Cayes, Haiti. The program consists of three sequential modules: Year 1 (Foundation and Safety), Year 2 (Advanced Skills and Entrepreneurship), and Year 3 (Specialization and Professional Integration). Additional offerings include a Foreman Training Program and an Earn & Learn Model. Participants receive both classroom instruction and hands-on job site experience, with certificates awarded upon completion of each year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Three-Year Commercial Construction Apprenticeship Program A comprehensive three-year vocational training program in commercial construction based in Les Cayes, Haiti, providing free classroom instruction and hands-on job-site experience to prepare participants for skilled employment in Haiti's construction industry. The program covers foundation and safety (Year 1), advanced skills and entrepreneurship (Year 2), and specialization with professional integration (Year 3), with certificates awarded upon completion of each year. Delivered at no cost to Haitian participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% of first cohort graduates secured full-time positions in commercial construction industry
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sun Valley MasonrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest masonry and concrete contractors in the Southwest. Todd Baum, President of Sun Valley Masonry, serves on Lakou's Board of Directors. They provide industry expertise and construction insight.
• Msaada ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecializes in creating facility designs tailored to meet unique needs of ministries, integrating local building practices with emerging technologies for efficient and cost-effective facilities.
• Meyer GuildminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCustom builds, home remodels, and window installations across NE Chicagoland and the North Shore. Provides expert craftsmanship support.
• Illinois Tool Works (ITW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal multi-industry manufacturing leader founded in 1912, with seven industry-leading segments. Provides industrial expertise and resources.
• Nouvelle AubecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates sustainable businesses in Haiti creating revenue streams to support vulnerable kids and provide jobs to local Haitians. Lakou has built their maintenance building.
• Cushing & Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecializes in custom signage, branded environments, and graphic installations for businesses across Chicago and beyond.
• Pro-Am Team SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTeam sports and workwear specialist creating branded apparel. Corporate sponsor providing promotional materials support.
• Agape FlightsminorOthersProvides timely deliveries of essential mail and supplies in regions where resources are scarce and infrastructure is limited in the Caribbean.
• Earthlight TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily-owned business based in Ellington, CT specializing in residential and commercial solar and energy efficiency. Tim Schneider, co-founder, serves on Lakou's Board.
• CHAMPROminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounded in 1986, Glenview, IL-based sporting goods manufacturer providing sports equipment and custom apparel.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• buildOn: Nonprofit operating in multiple developing countries combining vocational construction training and literacy programs with school-building projects. Highly comparable to Lakou's apprenticeship-plus-construction model and developing-world geographic focus.
• All Hands and Hearts: Disaster-response nonprofit that trains and deploys volunteers to build earthquake- and hurricane-resilient structures globally. Shares Lakou's disaster-resilient construction focus and volunteer/apprentice-style workforce model.
• Don Bosco Tech / Salesian Missions: Global Catholic network providing vocational and technical training for low-income youth across the developing world, with significant Haitian operations. Closest mission-aligned peer for trade-school vocational training in low-resource contexts.
• YouthBuild International: Network running construction apprenticeship programs for disadvantaged youth worldwide. Direct model analog to Lakou's three-year earn-and-learn construction apprenticeship for unemployed populations.

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity International: Large global nonprofit that builds affordable, disaster-resilient housing and operates youth vocational construction programs (Habitat Youth Programs). A much larger incumbent overlapping with Lakou on mission and methods.

Regional players

• Lambi Fund of Haiti: Nonprofit funding sustainable development, skills training, and small enterprise in rural Haiti. Regionally focused peer operating in the same Haitian environment as Lakou and overlapping on workforce development themes.

Others

• Engineers Without Borders USA: Nonprofit engaging engineers and volunteers on community-driven infrastructure projects in developing countries. Comparable in mission around building capacity and resilient infrastructure, though not a direct vocational-training competitor.

Emerging players

• ShelterBox: Disaster-relief nonprofit providing emergency shelter and supporting reconstruction in hurricane- and earthquake-affected regions including the Caribbean. Adjacent peer on disaster-resilient construction methodology and donor base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCC9aFiVtBAg3VCLvaS6yfPg
• Facebookfacebook.com/thelakou
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lakou
• Instagraminstagram.com/lakoueducation.ht

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LALOU