Introduction: Rust Expands Its Mentorship Horizons
The Rust programming language has long been committed to fostering new contributors through structured mentorship. With a strong track record in programs like Google Summer of Code (GSoC) (three consecutive years, including 2026) and the earlier OSPP, the Rust Project is excited to announce its participation in another prestigious initiative: Outreachy. Starting with the May 2026 cohort, Rust will host four interns, further diversifying its community and providing opportunities to individuals who face systemic barriers in tech.
Outreachy offers paid, remote internships to people from any background who experience underrepresentation or discrimination in the technical industry where they live. Unlike some other programs, Outreachy requires applicants to first apply to the overall program before selecting a specific community—a process designed to ensure fairness and inclusivity. This article explores how Outreachy differs from GSoC, details the selected projects, and highlights why this partnership matters for the Rust ecosystem.
Outreachy vs. Google Summer of Code: Key Differences
While both programs aim to bring new talent into open source, their structures and eligibility criteria set them apart.
Application Process
In Google Summer of Code, contributors apply directly to a participating organization with a project proposal. Outreachy, conversely, requires a two-step process: first, applicants must meet the program's eligibility requirements and submit a general application to Outreachy; only then can they apply to specific communities like Rust. Moreover, Outreachy mandates a contribution period during which applicants work on real issues in the community before their application is considered. This contrasts with GSoC, where contributions are encouraged but not always required.
Stipend and Funding
Another major distinction lies in funding. For GSoC, Google covers the intern stipends and administrative overhead. In Outreachy, the hosting community (in this case, the Rust Project) is responsible for funding the interns' stipends and associated costs. This reflects a deeper organizational commitment—Rust must raise the necessary funds to support its interns, underscoring its dedication to nurturing talent.
Internship Periods
Outreachy runs two rounds each year: one from May to August (the current cohort) and another from December to March. GSoC typically has a single summer cycle. By joining Outreachy, Rust gains access to a broader timeline for onboarding contributors.
The May 2026 Interns and Their Projects
Despite limited mentoring capacity and budget, the Rust Project has selected four outstanding interns for this cohort. Here are the three publicly announced projects (the fourth will be revealed soon).
Calling Overloaded C++ Functions from Rust
Intern: Ajay Singh
Mentors: teor, Taylor Cramer, and Ethan Smith
This project targets an experimental feature: enabling Rust code to call overloaded C++ functions directly. C++ function overloading (multiple functions with the same name but different parameters) poses a challenge for Rust's Foreign Function Interface (FFI). Ajay will implement prototype support and test it in a few representative use cases, paving the way for smoother interoperability between the two languages.
Code Coverage of the Rust Compiler at Scale
Intern: Akintewe Oluwasola
Mentor: Jack Huey
Ensuring the Rust compiler (rustc) is thoroughly tested is critical for stability and performance. Akintewe will develop workflows to run and analyze code coverage across the entire compiler test suite and on ecosystem crates monitored by crater (Rust's change-impact analysis tool). The goal is to detect inadequately tested areas—both inside the compiler and across the ecosystem—and build tools for continuous coverage analysis. This will help maintain Rust's reliability as it scales.
Fuzzing the a-mir-formality Type System Implementation
Intern: Tunde-Ajayi Olamiposi
Mentors: Niko Matsakis, Rémy Rakic, and tiif
A-mir-formality is an in-progress formal model of Rust's type and trait system. Fuzzing (automated testing with random inputs) can uncover subtle bugs that manual tests miss. Tunde-Ajayi will implement fuzzing infrastructure for this model, helping to validate its correctness and robustness. This work is foundational for future language enhancements and for ensuring the type system behaves as specified.
Why Outreachy Matters for Rust
Participating in Outreachy aligns with Rust's core values of inclusion, transparency, and community-driven development. By reaching beyond traditional channels, Rust invites perspectives from underrepresented groups—people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and others who face systemic bias in tech. These fresh viewpoints can lead to more accessible documentation, better error messages, and features that serve a wider audience.
Moreover, Outreachy internships are paid, removing financial barriers that often prevent people from contributing to open source. The requirement for a contribution period also ensures that interns already have context and commitment before the official start, increasing the likelihood of successful outcomes.
Looking Ahead
The Rust Project's involvement in Outreachy marks a significant milestone in its journey toward a truly diverse and inclusive community. While funding and mentoring resources are limited, the selection of these four projects demonstrates careful investment in areas that benefit the entire ecosystem—from better FFI and compiler testing to formal verification.
We congratulate Ajay, Akintewe, and Tunde-Ajayi (and the yet-unnamed fourth intern) on their selection and look forward to their contributions. To learn more about Outreachy’s mission and how to apply for future cohorts, visit the Outreachy website. For updates on Rust’s mentorship programs, stay tuned to the Rust Blog.