Family heading to Africa for project

COLUMBUS, Ind. (The Republic) - For the next two years, two leaders of the Columbus Food Co-op will call Africa home, just as they did in the early 1980s when they served in the Peace Corps, 24-Hour News 8’s news partner The Republic reports.

Michael Greven, his wife Liz Nolan-Greven, and their 15-year-old son, Liam, will move to Eldoret, Kenya where Greven will supervise the construction of a chronic disease care center.

The family will leave this month.

Greven and Nolan-Greven, own and operate EcoSource, a green building company and solar technology installer.

They were asked by Indiana University to oversee construction of a 110,000-square-foot chronic disease care center, a project that is planned to take two years.

IU leads a group of academic health centers that are working in partnership with the Kenyan governments and Moi University, the primary center for teaching doctors and medical professionals in Kenya.

Together they are tackling issues like HIV/AIDS, health care, nutrition, jobs and education.

Greven became associated with IU’s projects in Kenya when he met U2 singer Bono at an AIDS crisis event in Indianapolis years ago.

Greven has traveled to Kenya and helped with construction of other projects, including a mother-and-baby hospital.

The decision to relocate was easy, they said.