Why Become a Mentee?

Top Reasons to Join the Mentorship Program:

🚀 Learn from Anywhere

  • 100% remote—no need to relocate!

  • Fit your learning around your schedule, from anywhere in the world.

👩‍💻 Hands-On Learning with Experts

  • Receive personalized guidance from experienced open source developers.

  • Sharpen your skills in coding, testing, writing, project management, and much more.

  • Tackle real-world software development tasks as part of a vibrant community.

💰 Get Paid While You Learn

  • Earn a stipend, paid in two installments based on your progress and final program completion.

  • (Note: A few programs are unpaid and will be clearly stated in the Program Description.)

💼 Boost Your Career Prospects

  • Connect with employers seeking talent for open source projects.

  • Gain exposure and receive potential referrals from mentors for job opportunities.

  • (Note: Job interactions and offers are outside the scope of the Mentorship Program and are solely between you and the employer.)

🛠️ Build In-Demand Tech Skills

  • Work on real projects using the latest technologies.

  • Learn new tools, workflows, and best practices in open source.

🌐 Grow Your Network

  • Become part of a global open source community.

  • Expand your professional network by working closely with developers, community members, and industry leaders.

  • Build lasting relationships with mentors and peers.

What Our Mentees Say


"Life-Changing and Liberating"

“The Linux Kernel Mentorship is life changing. Throughout my internship, I learned that the kernel community is incredibly helpful and kind, always willing to assist new developers. Working on open source projects was a liberating experience—there are no barriers. Anyone, regardless of nationality, creed, or company affiliation, can contribute. That openness is both beautiful and intellectually stimulating.”Kelsey Skunberg, Linux Kernel Mentorship Program Mentee


"A Perfect Balance"

“Before this internship, I mainly worked on theoretical blockchain and cryptography research at Purdue University. This internship gave me the perfect balance between development and research.”Jason You, Mentee for Hyperledger Caliper Visualization


"From Intimidation to Inspiration"

“Open source development was initially new and a bit intimidating for me—even beyond the technical skills. However, presenting my project at a Hyperledger event was transformative. It introduced me to the Hyperledger community, opened up a world of possibilities, and allowed me to connect with project maintainers and exchange ideas. Suddenly, the open source Hyperledger ecosystem became accessible and exciting.”Attila Klenik, Hyperledger Summer Intern Program Alum & Mentor

Moments That Matter: Mentee Testimonials


"A Pride-Taking Moment!"

Think of the moment when your first PR (pull request) gets committed upstream in an application that developers across the globe will use. What a proud moment! Isn’t it?

"The Linux Kernel Mentorship program was a life-changing experience. Working on open source projects was incredibly liberating for me. There are no barriers in open source—anyone can contribute, regardless of nationality, creed, or company affiliation, which I find profoundly beautiful. I believe it is an intellectually stimulating experience for everyone."Bharath Vedartham, Linux Kernel Mentee


Confidence and Growth

"I had the honor of participating in the Linux Kernel Mentorship Program. Throughout the mentorship, I developed a deep passion for working on open source projects and engaging with their communities. My confidence as a developer grew tremendously.

The application process laid a strong foundation for contributing to the Linux kernel, teaching me how to build patches, debug, run boot tests, and collaborate with open source communities.

I was able to grow these new skills throughout the program while working on my selected project."Kelsey Skunberg, Linux Kernel Mentorship Program Mentee


From Newcomer to Mentor

"Open source development was new territory for me and, admittedly, a bit intimidating at first. My breakthrough came when I presented my project work at a Hyperledger event—my first close-up experience with the community.

It opened up a world of possibilities: I met maintainers, exchanged ideas, and had my questions answered.

This experience set me on the path to become more involved, eventually becoming a maintainer for Hyperledger Caliper. As a next step, I had the pleasure of mentoring a Caliper-related internship project this year."Attila Klenik, Hyperledger Summer Intern Program Alum and Current Mentor


Inspired? Leap and discover where open source mentorship can take you!

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