How do you create a national movement for financial literacy?
Not through a series of lectures. Not through an advertising campaign. But through hundreds of children stepping onto the stage in their school, library or community centre and turning learning into a shared experience for the whole community.

This is exactly what lies at the heart of the national initiative “Let’s Set the Money Carousel Spinning – Together!”, which turned Bulgaria into a stage for financial literacy.

And this is far more than just a slogan.

Within just a few days, dozens of schools, libraries and community centres across the country became real stages for financial education. Each performance brought its own story, audience and emotion to a shared national picture. The initiative showed that financial literacy can be much more than a topic taught in the classroom — it can become an experience that brings entire communities together.

During Global Money Week 2026 alone, more than 115 performances of the lesson-theatre “The Money Carousel” came to life across Bulgaria, involving thousands of children, teachers, parents, libraries, community centres and local organisations.

But the strength of the initiative lies not only in its scale.
It lies in the model itself.

1. Children are not the audience — they create the experience

There are many theatre-based and educational formats around the world dedicated to financial literacy, but in most cases professional actors perform for children.

“The Money Carousel” turns this model upside down.

Here, children themselves are at the centre of the process — they act, rehearse, prepare costumes and sets, think through the situations and experience the topics from within. Financial literacy stops being an abstract conversation about “money” and becomes a personal experience built on emotion, interaction and participation.

In fact, the preparation itself becomes part of the learning process.

And this is what makes the model unique — it does not simply “talk about” financial literacy; it transforms it into active participation.

2. “Your children. Your stage. Your community.” — the message comes to life in every performance

One of the strongest aspects of the initiative is its community impact.

Whether in a large city or a small town, in a school, library or community centre, each performance quickly becomes an event for the whole community. Parents help with costumes and decorations. Teachers rehearse with children after class. Libraries and community centres turn into stages. Local institutions, media and organisations stand behind the children.

In many places, representatives of financial institutions also become involved — not only by supporting the initiative, but by actively participating through discussions, explanations and educational meetings with children. This helps financial literacy move beyond abstract concepts and connect with real people, professions and life situations.

This is also one of the model’s greatest strengths: it does not enter communities as an external campaign, but grows organically from within.

3. A national movement built from hundreds of local experiences

“The Money Carousel – Together!” is also unique in another way — it transforms local communities into the creators of a national movement for financial literacy.

Within just a few days, dozens of performances took place across the country, each with its own story, audience and emotion. Together, these small local participations built a much bigger picture.

It is no coincidence that the initiative’s main slogan — “Let’s turn Bulgaria into a stage for financial literacy” — sounds so natural. Because the initiative does not happen in one place and does not belong to a single organisation. It is built by dozens of local communities that create their own stages while together forming a nationwide movement.

And this is where another powerful effect of the initiative emerged.

Every participant began telling the story of “The Money Carousel” in their own way. Schools, libraries and community centres shared photos, videos and emotions through social media, their websites and local media channels. In this way, the initiative spread naturally — from community to community, from stage to stage.

Alongside the main campaign, dozens of local stories emerged, together creating the feeling of a genuine national movement. And the extensive media coverage — both in local and national media — showed how strongly society recognises the need for financial literacy to reach children in a way that is human, engaging and accessible.

This turns the initiative into a network of connected experiences that collectively transform Bulgaria into a stage for financial literacy.

4. The format is naturally inclusive

“The Money Carousel” does not focus only on children who enjoy performing on stage.

Every child can find their place in the initiative — through music, dance, drawing, creating sets, organising activities, visual design, teamwork or stage performance.

This makes the format highly inclusive and creates a strong sense of belonging. Instead of encouraging competition over who performs “best”, the model promotes the shared creation of something meaningful.

And that is one of the most valuable foundations for genuine learning.

5. “The Money Carousel” is more than an initiative — it is a model with long-term potential

Behind the lesson-theatre stands a strong methodological foundation based on experiential learning, learning through drama and the development of practical skills through participation.

The initiative demonstrates that financial literacy can be taught differently — not through memorising concepts, but through experience, dialogue and real-life situations.

This is exactly why “The Money Carousel” has the potential to go far beyond a single awareness campaign.

It already shows what a sustainable educational model could look like — one that:

• engages children and communities;
• develops knowledge and practical skills;
• creates a sense of belonging;
• encourages active participation;
• and transforms learning into an experience.

And perhaps this is the initiative’s greatest strength of all: it does not simply talk about financial literacy — it shows how learning itself can become a shared experience that connects children, schools and entire communities.