International Internship Prompts Reflection on Conflict Resolution

Published

Princeton University undergraduates Alanys Rodriguez Cruz ’27 and Riley Yowell ’26 spent last summer exploring a potential legal career through Princeton’s International Internship Program (IIP), which places over 300 students in workplaces across 50 countries each summer. Their internships at the Judicial Center for Conflict Resolution and Citizenship (CEJUSC) in the south of Brazil offered them an opportunity to explore restorative justice practices that are increasingly important in both domestic and international contexts.

Rodriguez Cruz and Yowell shadowed and assisted CEJUSC’s resident psychologists and legal mediation professionals in weekly group workshops for aggressors in domestic violence cases. The workshops facilitated open conversations, group activities, individual assessments, and counseling, providing participants with tools to eschew escalation in future conflict. Rodriguez Cruz and Yowell reflect on their transformational summer.

 

Headshot of Alanys Rodriguez Alanys Rodriguez-Cruz ’27

"Through mediation, conciliation, and restorative justice practices from a neutral perspective, CEJUSC offered an opportunity to explore alternative methods for conflict resolution," said Riley Yowell ’26. "I saw firsthand how these processes help individuals and communities reach agreements that preserve personal relationships, stabilize society, and promote long-term peace. Overall, this internship provided me with a richer, more nuanced view of the world, a stronger foundation in international legal practices, and a deeper appreciation for the cultural factors that influence them."

headshot of Riley Yowell ’26 Riley Yowell ’26

"Throughout our IIP, I engaged with a new legal environment that deepened my understanding of how public policies and legal systems operate globally," said Alanys Rodriguez Cruz ’27. "Living and working in a different country greatly improved my cross-cultural communication skills, particularly in overcoming language barriers and adapting to new environments. This adaptability, along with the experience of building professional relationships in a diverse setting, has prepared me for the global challenges I aim to tackle as I pursue a career in law and public affairs."