Contributing to open source projects can be overwhelming, especially when you are new to open source and or are facing systemic bias and underrepresentation. However, outreachy simplifies this process by providing internships to people who meet that criteria. The program curates projects that you can explore to find one that suits your interests and skill sets.

What makes Outreachy even better is the support you get. Each project comes with mentors who are there to provide guidance and help you through the process. They offer all the essential information you'll need to contribute effectively to the project, which takes away much of the struggle of figuring things out on your own. It’s a fantastic opportunity to gain real-world experience, develop your skills, and make meaningful contributions to the open-source world.

In this article, I will walk you through the best practices for completing both the Initial Application Phase and Contribution Phase of the program. As someone with experience navigating through these two phases ,I’ll share valuable insights to help you succeed.

Understand Outreachy

Outreachy offers two internship sessions per year: May–August and December–March. The program is divided into three phases:

Initial Application Phase
Contribution Phase
Internship Phase

To succeed in this program, you’ll need to be familiar with these phases and know what’s expected from each. Sadly though, I don’t yet have direct experience with the Internship Phase, so I’m unable to provide specific tips for it at this time.

Initial Application Phase

The Initial Application Phase is the first step toward joining Outreachy, and although it can feel overwhelming, being prepared makes the process much smoother. Here’s what I recommend to ensure you’re ready:

Create Your Outreachy Account: Before anything else, create an account on the Outreachy Website. Complete your profile and keep it updated.

Read the Outreachy Applicant Guide: The Outreachy Applicant Guide has all the details you need to understand the application process. I suggest reading it early on to get a feel for what’s expected.

Start Drafting Your Essays Early: Outreachy requires you to submit essays as part of your application. Start writing them well before the application opens. It’s helpful to have drafts ready so you don’t feel rushed when the application period begins.

Check Out Helpful Resources: There are several videos and articles available to guide you through the application process. Here’s a helpful video to get you started:

Outreachy Internship Initial Application

Follow Outreachy on Social Media: Stay updated with announcements about the application period by following Outreachy on LinkedIn and X (Twitter). Important details like the application start date are typically shared through these channels.

Submitting Your Application

When the application window opens, apply as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the last minute, as the application period is often brief.

Before Contribution Phase

The Contribution Phase is a critical stage in the Outreachy application process, where you are expected to make real contributions such as bug fixes, documentation or new features to open-source projects in only a month so preparation is important.

Prepare to Contribute

As you wait for your initial application to be approved, take a leap of faith and start learning about this phase. Here are some useful resources to help you get started:

Applicant documentation

Make contributions

Outreachy Internship YouTube

Additionally, go through past projects to familiarise yourself and to anticipate which open source communities will participate. If you explore that list, you will find that some communities participate in each round, pick the ones that intrigue you and then research about them so that when your application is approved and you see these communities, you won’t spend a lot of your time trying to understand them. For example, I researched Wikimedia, Oppia, Fedora and Zulip, even before my application was approved because I saw that their communities usually participated in outreachy.

You’ll also find social media handles for past interns, which you can reach out to for advice. Networking with past participants is a great way to gain insider insights.

Also, mark the date and time when initial applications will be released and clear your schedule for the contribution phase.

Contribution phase

This phase needs your utmost dedication so make sure your schedule is clear so you can focus.

Explore the Projects: Once your initial application is accepted, start exploring the list of projects available for contribution. Choose one or two projects that match your skill set and interests.

Read the Project Information Thoroughly: The project page contains crucial information, such as the tools to use, communication channels, tasks to work on, mentor names, and time zones. Reading this carefully will save you a lot of time.

Engage with the Community: Join the project’s communication channels (such as Slack, mailing lists, or IRC) and introduce yourself. Engage with mentors and other contributors to familiarize yourself with the project’s culture.

Start Contributing Immediately: The project page has all the information on how to make a contribution so follow the instructions.

Ask Questions and Collaborate: If you’re unsure about something, ask! Mentors are there to guide you, and they’ll appreciate your proactive approach. Also, be sure to support fellow applicants as they navigate the process.

IMPORTANT!

Whenever you submit a contribution and your mentor approves it, make sure you record it in your account immediately. This is crucial because you might forget and also after sometime, the mentors close the project to new applicants and all your hard work will be in vain.

To record a contribution, go to the project page on the outreachy site and click on that green button which says Record Contributions and Apply to this project.

It will take you to a new page which has another button at the bottom.

Add your contribution and save it, then move on to the next contribution.

Final Application

You’re not done yet! To complete the Contribution Phase, you must submit a Final Application. In this, you’ll be asked to provide a timeline of the tasks you intend to work on during the internship, should you be selected.

I recommend working closely with your mentors to get a sense of what the tasks will look like and then creating a realistic timeline for accomplishing them.

Once you’ve completed your Final Application, submit it and await feedback.

Conclusion

Completing both the Initial Application Phase and Contribution Phase successfully is crucial to securing an Outreachy internship. As someone who has gone through these phases, I hope the insights I’ve shared will help you navigate this journey smoothly.

Good luck, and I look forward to seeing your contributions to the open-source community!

Onboarding to the Outreachy Internship Program