Never did I picture myself as a person who blogs but here I am! As a part of my Outreachy internship with the Wikimedia Foundation, I am required to write down a blog weekly. However, I do see the purpose of it, as I write down my experience for future applicants to read and get inspired, similar to me a few months back trying to understand how to pick an organisation, find a project, write a strong proposal and finally getting selected! I have read my fair share of Outreachy blogs as well.
First things first: What is Outreachy?
Outreachy, according to their website, is a paid, remote internship program that helps people traditionally underrepresented in tech make their first contributions to Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) communities. It is similar to the GSoC program.
Interns are paid a stipend of $5,500 and have a $500 travel stipend available to them.The Outreachy travel stipend gives interns a chance to network with their community, give their first public tech talk, look for a job, or learn new skills. Interns work remotely with mentors from Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) communities on projects ranging from programming, user experience, documentation, illustration and graphical design, to data science.
My Journey
I came to know about Outreachy through a friend of mine and initially planned on applying in Round 15. However, due to my exams overlapping with the application deadline, (also I was unsure if I was eligible for that round since I had to take up classes at the university) I was unable to write down a proposal.
Fast forward a few months, applications for Round 16 were opened and I was eligible this time! I went through the list of projects and I must admit, the most difficult part for me would have been choosing the right project for myself. I picked The Wiki Education Dashboard as the language requirements for the project were something I knew. I fixed a few issues, contacted my mentor and wrote down a proposal just in time before the deadline. I continued to contribute to the project. Finally, on the day of the results, I was nervous but also excited. I sat down in front of my laptop and refreshed the page just at time of the announcement. Ctrl+f and my name, I was selected! I was so excited as I told my loved ones about the great great news.
The internship begins this May 14 and currently, I’m enjoying the Community Bonding Period, writing blog posts, polishing goals, interacting with fellow summer interns and learning more about Wikimedia. I’d be back writing blogs every week after the internship kicks off. If anyone wants to ask any questions regarding my internship, feel free to contact me! I’d be happy to help future applicants!
This blog was originally posted on my website.
