Outreachy

Meet Agien Petra, one of our incredible Outreachy alumni whose journey is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and inclusion in open source! Through Outreachy, Agien gained invaluable skills and has grown into a role model, giving back to the program and the #FOSS ecosystem and inspiring the next generation of contributors. In this video, Agien shares their story and why supporting Outreachy is more than just funding internships—investing in a more diverse, inclusive, and innovative tech future. Programs like Outreachy don't just create opportunities—We build pathways for individuals to thrive and give back to their communities. But we can't do it alone; we need your support, especially now! 📢 Help us keep this vital program running by donating today. Every contribution makes a difference in sustaining mentorship, empowering contributors, and fostering diversity in open source. Donate here: https://lnkd.in/dyTCcV9R. Spread the word and support Outreachy! #OpenSource #DiversityInTech #OutreachyImpact #DonateNow

We officially begin an exciting three-month journey for our newest interns, the December 2024 cohort. As you embark on this impactful experience, we’re thrilled to see your contributions to the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) ecosystem. The Outreachy and its project communities are here to support you every step of the way. Take full advantage of the vibrant network, resources, and opportunities to grow, learn, and innovate. Remember, this is your time to shine, connect, and create lasting impacts. We’re cheering you on every step of the way. Welcome to the community! #Outreachy #OpenSource #FOSS #DiversityinTecgh #RemoteInternship

My first Open Source contribution was to LLVM, a compiler infrastructure for building compilers, debuggers, and tools, about 18 months ago. I learned about Open Source through Kunal Kushwaha’s videos on YouTube, and the concept of Open Source fascinated me. The idea of contributing to software projects that I used—and that were also used by millions of people around the world—was incredibly exciting. I discovered organizations like Outreachy and GSoC, which promote the OpenSource spirit among new contributors. When the Outreachy application process opened, I applied and chose to contribute to LLVM. Contributing to LLVM was challenging as it’s one of the largest OpenSource projects. As a beginner, it took me nearly a month to compile its massive codebase. My system frequently froze, forcing me to wait overnight for progress or restart entirely. Reflecting on this, I realized specifying CPU cores during the build process could have saved me from these issues. Despite the difficulties, I persevered, but I wasn’t selected for Outreachy at that time. However, my passion for learning and contributing drove me to explore other projects. I made multiple contributions to critical Open Source projects like Linux systemd, CPython documentation, the Canonical website, pep8speaks, and the Open Science Initiative for Perfusion Imaging (OSIPI). I also shared my journey through initiatives like SkillSpark and writing blogs. Later this year, I applied to Outreachy again. This time, I contributed to two projects: Git and LibreOffice. To my delight, I was accepted by both organizations. It was a tough decision, but I ultimately chose to work with Git under the mentorship of Christian Couder, a Staff Backend Engineer at GitLab. I am deeply grateful to Christian Couder, Patrick Steinhardt from GitLab, Phillip Wood, Taylor Blau  from GitHub, Eric Sunshine, and Junio Hamano for their guidance and for reviewing my patches during the contribution stage. Thanks especially to my project mentor, Christian Couder, for agreeing to mentor me. Special thanks to GitHub and GitLab for sponsoring my project through Outreachy and allowing Christian Couder to mentor me as part of his role at GitLab. Lastly, my heartfelt gratitude to the Outreachy for creating this opportunity for me and countless others. I will officially begin my work next Monday, and I plan to document my journey on my blog: https://lnkd.in/ghXq5bEX. I will be pushing updates to this Git repository: https://lnkd.in/gDN6wPsj, before sending my changes to the Git public listing for my mentor to review. Stay tuned for regular updates on my project, “Finish adding an 'os-version' capability to Git protocol v2,” as I embark on this exciting Outreachy program, exploring new challenges and making meaningful contributions. P.S.: Below is a picture from my meeting with my mentor today, where we discussed the project I will be working on, along with the congratulations email from Outreachy.

Heyyyyy!! Curious about landing a fully remote internship in free software—or maybe just curious about me? Check out my blog post where I share my journey to becoming a GNOME Foundation Intern through Outreachy as Federico Mena Quintero as my mentor https://lnkd.in/dCDY48Px Have a good read 🎉!

Today marks the beginning of my project at Git and my internship at Outreachy. I wrote about the full details of the project I will be working on in my blog. I also shared what I will be working on this week and what I have been working on so far. My project is all about adding "os-version" to the Git v2 protocol, which means information such as operating system name will be shared between the Git Client (git in your local system) and the Git Server (e.g., GitHub or GitLab). This allows for statistical analysis, security and debugging purposes, which makes it beneficial. For example: - A server noticing that a client is using an old Git version with security issues on one platform, like macOS, could verify if the user is indeed running macOS before sending a message to upgrade. - Similarly, a server identifying a client that could benefit from an upgrade (e.g., for performance reasons) could better customize the message it sends to nudge the client to upgrade. You can read more about it on my blog:

Support Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) https://lnkd.in/d-d_9ZZj. I got paid for contributing to open source for the first time through the Outreachy open source internship program from Dec 2019 - March 2020. Outreachy provides internships to people subject to systemic bias and impacted by underrepresentation in the technical industry where they are living. Outreachy currently runs a bi-yearly three months paid ($7000) internship program. Before Outreachy I was just an Android developer with little experience contributing to open source projects. Outreachy allowed me to intern with the Wikimedia Foundation as an Android developer working on the Wikieducation Dashboard. The payment I received as an intern from the Outreachy program and with support from my partner Justin Obi gave birth to AfricInnovate a software development, training, and co-working space hub. With the existence of AfricInnovate we have had the opportunity of impacting our immediate community where we are physically present and globally. Since we started in 2020 we have trained over 1000 students in various training programs, bootcamps, internships, and places of primary assignment for corp members The co-working space has been a home for both freelancers and individuals who work remotely and a home for startups to build their products. And with our event space, we have hosted more than 50 tech events with more than 10,000 attendees in total. At Africinnovate we train our students on how to contribute to open source projects. I have also created some videos on how to get into the Outreachy program. https://lnkd.in/diTFp4Pz https://lnkd.in/dxz__9Fq https://lnkd.in/dMMZi2QT Outreachy has allowed us to change the lives of others who are now doing great in their various lives. We have had testimonies from our students and interns who said if not for Africinnovate they wouldn’t have been where they are now in their career. And some from the events we have hosted said they can take that next step because they attended our event. All of this wouldn’t have been possible if not for Outreachy. Now Outreachy needs our help! Outreachy's future is tied to the success of the Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC)’s yearly fundraiser. Together, we can make a lasting difference. Let's continue to empower the next generation of free and open-source talent and build a more inclusive future. For the Outreachy program to continue to run your support is needed! Here are helpful links to donate; https://lnkd.in/d-d_9ZZj https://lnkd.in/dCeTzK9j

Being an Outreachy alum, I must say my Outreachy internship has a huge impact and a great share of contribution to my career in FOSS. Here is a shoutout to Outreachy organizers and how they have transformed hundreds of lives by giving a break to people like me in the FOSS. Please join me in donating to Software Freedom Conservancy so they can continue running Outreachy: https://lnkd.in/dr-2Gaa3 By contributing to the SFC fundraising campaign, you're directly supporting the continuation of Outreachy. Your contribution, no matter what size, will make a tangible difference to the work of Outreachy and its impact on the FOSS ecosystem. Please donate to SFC today. #SupportSFC #SupportOutreachy

Do you know that your Outreachy story can inspire change? The remarkable impact of Outreachy isn’t just the result of individual effort—it’s a testament to the collective dedication of our organizers, the Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) team, our generous sponsors, FOSS projects, community coordinators, mentors, and most importantly, our interns who pour their time and energy into meaningful contributions. We’re dedicating this post to celebrating these success stories. Join the Software Freedom Conservancy, Outreachy, Fundraising Campaign by Sharing your story! Share your Outreachy success story in the comments. Quote this post or highlight the stories of others impacted by the program. Your story could be the spark that convinces someone to donate. By sharing, you’re not just celebrating these achievements—you’re helping others see the real impact of Outreachy, inspiring them to support our program, and driving our fundraiser campaign forward.  Let’s work together to keep the doors of opportunity open for the next generation of diverse tech talent. Learn more and donate here: https://lnkd.in/g8RJkDhh Thank you for joining us in championing diversity and inclusion in tech. #DonateToOutreachy #SFCFundraiser #DiversityInTech #SupportInclusion

It's the last month of the year. A moment to reflect, celebrate, and rest. Happy new month, folks.

Outreachy announces the December 2024 cohort interns! For the December 2024 internship cohort, 25 interns were accepted.  We are proud of the efforts all applicants put into their contributions. Check out the December 2024 to March 2025 cohort interns on our alums page: https://lnkd.in/dKJ4suEd We look forward to your contribution and growth in the #FOSS ecosystem. Applicants who weren't accepted in this round are encouraged to apply again.  Submit your initial application early, & keep in touch with the communities you've joined during the application period. Applications will open in mid-January for the May 2025 cohort. Check out the full schedule: https://lnkd.in/dFYtFaCT Subscribe to our announcement mailing https://lnkd.in/d57SpTur We greatly appreciate our generous sponsors. A detailed sponsor thank-you post will be released in December 2024. Thank you for your support! Due to decreased funding and the financial challenges of FOSS communities, which significantly impact Outreachy, we had to make tough decisions about how many internships we could fund. Kindly donate to help us accept more interns in the future and keep our work going! https://lnkd.in/dWhyfXPX #Outreachy #DiversityinTech