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Linux Foundation Open Source Ambassador Program

Mission

The HomeWorld Educational Resources (HWER) – Linux Foundation Fellows Program prepares the next generation of open-source leaders by combining technical training, applied research, and real-world contributions to Linux Foundation projects and communities.

The program develops professionals capable of advancing open-source software, cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital governance, and critical infrastructure technologies through collaborative innovation.

 

Vision

To build a global community of researchers, engineers, and technology leaders who strengthen open-source ecosystems while advancing technologies that serve the public good.

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Program Objectives

 

The Fellows Program aims to:

  • Develop future open-source technical leaders

  • Increase meaningful contributions to Linux Foundation projects

  • Advance research and best practices in open-source governance

  • Support AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure initiatives

  • Bridge academia, nonprofits, industry, and open-source communities

  • Create publicly available educational resources and technical documentation

 

Fellowship Tracks

 

1. Open Source Engineering Fellow

Focus:

  • Linux Foundation projects

  • GitHub contributions

  • Feature development

  • Bug fixes

  • Testing

  • Documentation

 

Deliverables:

  • Pull Requests

  • Technical documentation

  • Tutorials

  • Architecture diagrams

 

2. AI Infrastructure Fellow

 

Focus:

  • Enterprise AI

  • Agentic AI

  • MCP

  • Kubernetes

  • GPU infrastructure

  • Cloud-native AI

 

Possible Linux Foundation communities:

  • CNCF

  • OpenSSF

  • LF AI & Data

 

Deliverables:

  • Reference architectures

  • White papers

  • Open-source tools (new AI harness, etc.)

  • AI governance recommendations

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3. Cloud Infrastructure Fellow

 

Focus:

  • Terraform

  • Kubernetes

  • Platform engineering

  • Infrastructure-as-Code

  • Automation

  • Enterprise cloud

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Deliverables:

  • Open-source modules

  • Infrastructure templates

  • Best-practice guides

  • Technical workshops

 

4. Open Source Governance Fellow

 

Focus:

  • Open-source governance

  • AI governance

  • Security governance

  • Project governance

  • Community management

 

Projects could include:

  • FINOS

  • OpenSSF

  • Linux Foundation Europe

  • LF Decentralized Trust

  • LF AI & Data

 

Deliverables:

  • Governance frameworks

  • Policy documentation

  • Best-practice recommendations

  • Working group participation

 

5. FINOS AI Infrastructure Fellow

 

Focus:

  • FINOS

  • Common Cloud Controls

  • AI Governance Framework

  • Enterprise AI deployment

  • Financial cloud security

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Deliverables:

  • White papers

  • Open-source reference implementations

  • Terraform modules

  • Security documentation

  • Conference presentations

 

Fellow Expectations

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Each Fellow should complete:

 

Technical Contributions

  • GitHub Pull Requests

  • Documentation

  • Tutorials

  • Sample implementations

 

Research

  • White paper or

  • Technical report or

  • Conference paper

 

Community

  • Participate in Linux Foundation meetings

  • Join Working Groups

  • Review documentation

  • Mentor new contributors

 

Outreach

  • Technical talks

  • Webinars

  • Workshops

  • Blog articles

 

Mentorship Structure

 

Each Fellow receives three types of mentorship, including

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1. HWER R&D Mentors

  • Research

  • Career

  • Writing

  • Presentations

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2. Technical Mentors

  • Industry Cloud or AI experts

  • Linux Foundation directors

  • Project maintainers 

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3. Community Mentors / Training

  • Open-source community leaders

  • Working Groups leaders

  • Project leaders

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Annual Deliverables

 

For each Fellow

  • 10–20 GitHub contributions

  • 1 technical white paper

  • 2 conference presentations or webinars

  • 4 technical blog posts

  • Participation in at least one Linux Foundation Working Group

  • One capstone open-source project

  • Public portfolio website showcasing work and impact

 

For Linux Foundation, HWER Fellows can provide:

  • Documentation

  • Educational content

  • User research

  • Community engagement

  • Testing

  • Governance research

  • AI evaluation

  • Accessibility reviews

  • Architecture documentation

 

Benefits to Fellows

  • Open-source experience

  • Public GitHub portfolio

  • Industry mentors

  • Linux Foundation community

  • Conference presentations

  • Research publications

  • Recommendation letters

  • Leadership opportunities

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HWER Open Source Fellows and Ambassador Program

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The HWER Open Source Fellows and Ambassador Program is a talent development and public-interest technology initiative established by HomeWorld Educational Resources to prepare emerging professionals to contribute meaningfully to open-source communities and Linux Foundation–hosted projects.

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Through the program, HWER Fellows work on practical technical, research, educational, and governance activities related to open-source software, artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, financial technology, and digital governance. Fellows may contribute to relevant Linux Foundation communities such as FINOS, LF AI & Data, CNCF, OpenSSF, and other aligned initiatives.

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The program combines structured mentorship, professional development, and real-world open-source participation. Depending on their expertise, Fellows may develop software, improve documentation, create reference architectures, conduct user or policy research, contribute to governance frameworks, prepare technical white papers, support working groups, and produce educational resources for the broader community.

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Each Fellow is expected to complete a defined project or contribution portfolio that may include GitHub contributions, technical reports, governance recommendations, workshops, presentations, tutorials, or an open-source capstone project. HWER provides research guidance, project coordination, communication support, and professional mentorship, while Fellows engage directly with relevant project communities and maintainers.

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The program is designed to create value for all participants. Linux Foundation communities benefit from additional contributors, research, documentation, implementation examples, and community support. Fellows gain public evidence of technical contribution, open-source experience, industry exposure, mentorship, leadership development, and a stronger professional portfolio. HWER expands its educational mission by connecting learning, research, workforce development, and public-benefit technology.

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The long-term goal of the program is to build a sustainable pipeline of open-source engineers, researchers, governance specialists, and community leaders who can advance secure, responsible, and accessible technologies for industry and society.

HWER FINOS Fellow 2026

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