Aisha
Aisha's Final Assignment — Choose Metrics for Her Project
Character: Aisha, 14, Ottawa, Ontario. Somali-Canadian. Project: Free Somali language and culture classes for kids in her community.
Step 1 — Her Project
"My project is called Somali Roots. I run free Somali language and culture classes for kids in my Ottawa neighbourhood. Many kids my age speak English at school but never get to learn their family's language. My most important goal right now is to grow participation — I want more kids attending each session and staying involved long-term."
Step 2 — Her 3 KPIs
KPI 1: Number of Active Participants
- Why: Growing participation is my main goal. If attendance is low, the classes aren't reaching enough kids.
- How: I'll track sign-in sheets at each session to count who attends.
KPI 2: Participant Satisfaction Rating
- Why: Attendance numbers don't tell me if kids actually enjoy the classes. If they dislike it, they'll stop coming. Satisfaction tells me the quality of the experience.
- How: I'll give a short five-question survey after each session, rated out of 5 stars.
KPI 3: Community Engagement Rate
- Why: My classes depend on word-of-mouth in the community. If community engagement is growing, it means more families know about Somali Roots and are spreading the word.
- How: I'll track how many new participants say they heard about the classes from a friend or family member each month.
Step 3 — Her SMART Goals
| KPI | SMART Target | |-----|-------------| | Active participants | Reach 30 or more attendees per session within 3 months | | Satisfaction rating | Maintain an average rating of 4 out of 5 or higher every month | | Community engagement | Achieve a 20% increase in new participants from referrals within 1 year |
Step 4 — Her Explanation
"I chose these three KPIs because they each measure something different and important. Participation tells me if I'm reaching enough kids. Satisfaction tells me if the experience is good. Community engagement tells me if people care enough to recommend it — which is the strongest sign that Somali Roots is making a real difference. If one KPI wasn't improving — say, satisfaction was dropping — I would ask participants directly what they would like to change and adjust the curriculum."
"I also want to note that Somali Roots could qualify for support from organizations like Futurpreneur Canada, which offers mentorship and funding for young entrepreneurs building community impact. Even though my project is free, having that professional support would help it grow sustainably."
Step 5 — Her Lean Canvas Key Metrics Box
Key Metrics:
- Active participants per session → 30+ attendees within 3 months
- Participant satisfaction rating → 4 out of 5 average or higher, tracked monthly
- Community referral rate → 20% increase in new participants from word-of-mouth within 1 year
What Aisha Did Well
- She picked three KPIs that each measure something different — volume, quality, and community reach
- Her SMART targets are specific, measurable, and time-bound
- She explained what she would actually do if a KPI wasn't improving
- She connected her metrics back to her mission of growing community impact