Outreachy

Paid internships specifically for underrepresented groups in tech.

Program Overview

Why Outreachy?

Focused Support System

Outreachy goes beyond code:

• Dedicated mentor for 1-on-1 guidance
• Community coordinators supporting the program
• Group chats with other interns for peer support
• Weekly chats discussing non-technical issues
• Career support and networking opportunities

Rigorous Selection

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│      OUTREACHY SELECTION PROCESS        │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                         │
│  Eligibility Check     ████████        │
│  Initial Screening     ██████          │
│  Contribution Period   ████████████    │
│  Final Selection       ██████          │
│                                         │
│  Acceptance Rate: 5-10%                 │
│  Very Competitive                       │
│                                         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Selection Criteria

Timeline (Typical)

Proposal Template

Focus on impact and learning:

## My Background
 
### About Me
- Your background and why Outreachy matters to you
- Experience in tech (or lack thereof - that's okay!)
- What you're hoping to learn
 
### Experience
- Prior open source contributions
- Relevant projects or coursework
- Learning style and how you prefer support
 
## Understanding the Project
 
### Problem Statement
[What will you be working on?]
 
### Why This Project?
[Why does it align with your goals?]
 
## Implementation Plan
 
### Weeks 1-2: Foundation
- Setup and learning
- Understanding existing code
 
### Weeks 3-6: Core Work
- Main implementation
- Testing and documentation
 
### Weeks 7-10: Polish
- Refinements based on feedback
- Performance and security improvements
 
### Weeks 11-13: Finalization
- Final documentation
- Deployment and handoff

Strengths of Outreachy

Support Beyond Money

Unlike other programs, Outreachy provides:

Code Quality        ████████  Pair programming, code reviews
Mentorship         ███████████  Dedicated mentor, regular check-ins
Community          ████████████  Active peer group and coordinators
Career Support     ██████████  CV review, interview prep
Diversity Focus    ████████████  Specifically for underrepresented people

Network

Connection with:

• 1000+ alumni in tech industry
• Mentors at major companies
• Other interns in cohort
• Organizations in open source

During the Internship

Weekly Schedule

• 40-50 hours of focused project work
• 1-2 hours mentor sync (async-friendly)
• Chat time with cohort and coordinators
• Blogging about progress and learnings
• Community participation in org meetings

Evaluation Metrics

After Outreachy

Career Benefits

Alumni Success Stories

• Many interns hired by tech companies
• Others became maintainers or started projects
• Strong network in open source community
• Career acceleration documented repeatedly

Application Tips

Stand Out

• Show genuine interest in open source
• Explain how Outreachy's support structure helps you
• Be honest about your background and challenges
• Show growth mindset and eagerness to learn

Avoid Common Mistakes

• Don't minimize your contributions or abilities
• Don't apply just for money
• Don't generic proposals without customization
• Don't disappear during contribution period

Resources

Outreachy Reality: Most rigorous selection process. Highly competitive. But extraordinary support system. If you're from an underrepresented group in tech, Outreachy is built for you.