STORY
The Lasting Lab is an online platform that empowers and brings together immigrant, refugee, and first-generation youth and young adults (15+) of all genders. Based in Canada with an international reach, we create a supportive and inclusive environment where young people collaborate, mentor one another, and build meaningful networks.
Through shared experiences, knowledge, and resources, members of The Lasting Lab grow together and support one another’s personal, academic, and professional development. Our community is built on trust, lived experience, and the belief that everyone has something valuable to contribute.
We organize events, workshops, and share online content to create a safe space where young people can take initiative, find inspiration, strengthen their voices, and connect with a community that understands their journey.
Join The Lasting Lab, where empowerment is not just a goal; it is a lasting commitment to growth, leadership, and a future full of possibilities.
Meet the Founder,
Aspiring Project Manager • Social Advocate • Human rights activist • Immigrant
My name is Marie-Louise,
I am the oldest of eight children, and I come from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Growing up in a large family taught me responsibility early, not just for myself, but for others. I learned how to lead by caring, how to listen, and how to hold space for people before I even had the words for it.
My journey has taken me across borders. I lived in San Diego, California, before eventually moving to Canada. With every move, I gained opportunity, but I also lost something important: community. I missed the feeling of belonging, of being part of a family beyond blood, of growing alongside people who understand your story.
That absence stayed with me.
As an immigrant, I know how isolating it can feel to start over, especially as a young person trying to find direction, confidence, and purpose in a new system. I didn’t just want to find a community, I wanted to create one.
That’s why I founded " The Lasting Lab."
The Lasting Lab is a space where immigrant, refugee, and first-generation youth and young adults (15+) can come together to learn, get involved, and grow into the leaders they already are. It’s about giving young people real opportunities to contribute, to develop skills, and to feel seen and supported, not someday, but now.
This platform is deeply personal to me. It reflects my belief that leadership begins with belonging, that growth happens through shared experience, and that young people thrive when they are trusted, guided, and given space to lead.
The Lasting Lab is not just an organization.
It’s a community built with intention, care, and hope for a better future.
In this interview, I had the chance to talk about “The Lasting Lab” mission and vision.
