About initiative
“LET’S SPIN THE MONEY CAROUSEL – TOGETHER!”
What happens when children do more than simply learn about money – when they tell their own stories about it, take on roles, make decisions and share what they have learned with others?
This is the idea behind “Let’s Spin the Money Carousel – Together!” – a national educational initiative that turns financial literacy into an opportunity for creativity, interaction and shared experiences.
At its heart is the original Money Carousel lesson-theatre, part of a broader educational programme designed to develop children's financial knowledge and skills through active, experiential learning.
The first edition of the initiative took place in 2026 to mark Global Money Week (16–22 March).
BULGARIA BECAME A STAGE FOR FINANCIAL LITERACY
Over 120 performances. More than 100 towns and villages. Around 2,500 children on stage. Over 11,000 audience members.
From its very first edition, Money Carousel reached dozens of towns and villages across Bulgaria. Schools, kindergartens, community cultural centres, libraries and local organisations joined the initiative, transforming classrooms, school halls and public spaces into stages for financial education.
Behind these numbers lie the dedication and imagination of thousands of children, educators and parents. Every performance had its own distinctive character, and together they turned Money Carousel into a nationwide movement.
YOUR CHILDREN. YOUR STAGE. YOUR COMMUNITY.
One shared educational foundation. Hundreds of ways to make it your own.
The organisers provide the script, methodological guidelines and necessary resources, while each participating organisation prepares its own lesson-theatre production. Children take on roles, rehearse, create stage sets, develop their own ideas for the performance and bring the story to life for their audience.
In this way, the same educational idea takes on a different form in every community – shaped by the children's imagination, the resources available to each organisation and the involvement of local people.
The preparation and performances bring together not only children but also their teachers, parents, families, local institutions, media and businesses. Financial education moves beyond the classroom and becomes an event for the whole community.
MORE THAN A LESSON. MORE THAN A STAGE.
In Money Carousel, the performance is not simply the outcome of learning. Creating the performance is itself part of the learning process.
To act out a situation, children first need to understand it. To portray a character's choices, they need to think through the decisions behind them. And to present the story to an audience, they need to express what they have learned through their own words and actions.
This is the strength of the lesson-theatre approach – children are not simply listeners, but active participants in developing and sharing financial knowledge.
And the impact extends beyond the children on stage. Teachers, parents and local partners become involved from the very beginning of the preparations. The performance attracts classmates, families and other community members, sparking conversations and interest in financial topics. In this way, each local production creates an ever-wider circle of people engaged with financial literacy.
HOW DOES THE FORMAT WORK, AND WHAT IMPACT DOES IT HAVE? EXPLORE OUR ANALYSIS!
THE SECOND EDITION IS COMING. WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?
Money Carousel continues – with new stories, new challenges and even more opportunities to get involved!
In 2027, the initiative is expanding its educational repertoire. Alongside the familiar lesson-theatre format, new activities will offer different ways to learn through action, creativity, discussion and decision-making.
-
Another lesson-theatre – a new story, new characters and new situations awaiting their actors and audiences.
-
Financial workshops – games, simulations and real-life challenges in which participants make choices, discuss the consequences and work together to find solutions.
-
Opportunities for open financial literacy lessons – meetings with financial professionals, discussions and practical examples that bring the world of finance closer to everyday life.
The second edition of Money Carousel will create new opportunities for children, teachers, parents and local communities to come together, create, discover and learn. It will also open up more ways for financial education to move beyond the traditional classroom and reach people through experiences that engage and inspire them.
Because the strength of Money Carousel lies in the people who make it their own and inspire others to join in.
“And if today we set the Money Carousel spinning, tomorrow we will set the wheel of opportunities in motion. Together.”
— Prof. Dr Ivan Shishmanov Special School for Students with Visual Impairments, Varna