The following activities use active learning methodologies to introduce the concepts of debt and debt justice to adult learners. The activities can be used in any order, or as standalone activities. For example, the debt diamond (Activity 3) works well as a short standalone activity following a presentation about the history of debt, to introduce a participatory element to the class. However, if a trainer or facilitator has multiple sessions available (4-6 hours in total), the activities are best used in sequence, in the order that they are presented:
- Teaching each other: debt justice in four countries (the jigsaw method)
- Building a timeline of debt crises in the Global North & Global South
- The Debt Diamond
In general terms, as an ice breaker, it is useful to begin by talking about the concept of debt at a personal or household level, and asking learners to discuss in pairs, and then in the larger group, how it makes them feel when they owe money, and who they feel has power when somebody lends them money.
