A Stratford woman kicked off a nonprofit educational venture Saturday to help educate people in Connecticut about her native Ghana.

Another goal of the venture is to promote travel to the African nation.

Veronica Wilson, whose African name is Atipena Nana Kyerewaa, will hold a fundraiser next weekend to help establish "Nana's African Village."

She explained the project will hold workshops and promote education about the traditions, language and culture of the Akan regions in Ghana.

She said people from Ghana tend to stay in their own circles and she wants to encourage them to mix with local residents and vice versa.

"I'm trying to encourage them to actually become involved in what's going on around them in the communities that they love in right here in Connecticut, because it's very important that we carry on our traditions, our culture," she added.

The fundraiser will be next Saturday at the Goodwin Hotel in Hartford.

Tickets are available online.