By Ty Dávila, Research Contributor at the New Lines Institute
The Peace Corps instills values that extend far beyond volunteers’ years of service, providing them with a mental framework to tackle life’s biggest challenges. This transformative experience continues to shape volunteers long after they return home, as demonstrated by Jim Rechtin, a former volunteer who now serves as CEO of Humana.
Rechtin’s Peace Corps service in the Republic of Congo nearly ended after six months when he was ready to pack his bags and return home. Instead, he persevered through the challenging adjustment period, building latrines and fostering connections with local residents. This intensive experience of communicating across cultural boundaries exemplifies the resilience and adaptability that Peace Corps service demands from its volunteers.
The most valuable Peace Corps lesson came from learning to truly listen to the community he served. As Rechtin recalls: “People would tell us, ‘There’s a crystal-clear stream running through my property.’ But when we dug deeper with our questions, they’d eventually admit, ‘Actually, we really need bathroom facilities at the marketplace, the schools, and the medical center.’ This helped us completely refocus our approach to the project. The key takeaway is simple: engage directly with the people you’re serving and find out what they actually require. They’re the ones who truly understand their own needs.”
This fundamental Peace Corps principle of listening to and learning from local communities creates a leadership mindset that volunteers carry throughout their lives, as Rechtin demonstrates through his successful business leadership. For Rechtin and countless other RPCVs, the Peace Corps provides foundational experience and develops an approach to problem-solving that values local knowledge and genuine community engagement above assumptions and outside expertise. Read the story here.