Andria Barrett - 2025 ILF Ambassador

Hello from Canada!

I'm proud to be included in the 2025 cohort. I'm a fierce advocate for inclusion and leverage over 15 years of experience helping organizations — from tech startups to nonprofits — create inclusive environments where people feel seen, heard, and valued.

My project, “Empowering Global ROSCA Users through Digital Financial Inclusion,” focuses on ROSCA users and aims to discover what steps need to be taken to support their transition to using digital financial tools that encourage global participation.

ROSCA is the acronym for Rotating Savings & Credit Associations. In Jamaica, it’s called a “pardna”. In Nigeria, it’s called a “susu”. In Guyana, it’s called a “box-hand” and in South Africa, it’s called a “stokvel” but in academia, it’s called a ROSCA.

I come from a family and community that has used this traditional way of saving money and continues to do so, to this very day.

As part of my project, I intend to interview ROSCA users here and abroad and also interview ROSCA app developers to introduce them to Interledger and using open systems.

Prior to starting this Ambassadorship, I helped to co-found the Banker Ladies Council & I'm a Director of the ROSCA Network where we work to support women in improving their financial confidence and learning to save money using ROSCAs (Rotating Savings & Credit Associations).

I also believe in supporting my community and I'm proud to be a board member at the Culinary Tourism Alliance, Black Education Fund and as a member of the Anti-Racism Advisory Committee with the Peel Regional Police.

You can reach me at andria@interledger.foundation

Looking forward to connecting with you!