Perform simple and mundane tasks
Many open source projects exist to provide a service to the public, when run by a company these projects can afford to pay staff to perform routine tasks such as manually collecting and inputting data but a community driven project must rely on user and volunteer entered data - this means that people with a few hours to spare can greatly help by performing a share of these simple tasks.
Librivox for example exists only because people are willing to read the free texts supplied by project Gutenberg and upload the files for everyone to share, this great project is giving people a much greater access to literature and education simply by collecting and organizing time people are wiling to donate to the cause. Wikipedia is perhaps an even more obvious example; a whole encyclopaedia of knowledge created simply by people willing to write a few articles or paragraphs, willing to locate a source for their statements and link to it - it's clear that great things can be done when people are given an effective way in which they can productively donate their time.
An important thing about helping open projects extend their data set is that other projects can also utilize the information, this means that when you add map data to wikipedia you're not just helping wiki, you're helping open maps and any other project which might have some use for that information.
Librivox for example exists only because people are willing to read the free texts supplied by project Gutenberg and upload the files for everyone to share, this great project is giving people a much greater access to literature and education simply by collecting and organizing time people are wiling to donate to the cause. Wikipedia is perhaps an even more obvious example; a whole encyclopaedia of knowledge created simply by people willing to write a few articles or paragraphs, willing to locate a source for their statements and link to it - it's clear that great things can be done when people are given an effective way in which they can productively donate their time.
An important thing about helping open projects extend their data set is that other projects can also utilize the information, this means that when you add map data to wikipedia you're not just helping wiki, you're helping open maps and any other project which might have some use for that information.
Giving can be it's own reward
When donating time and effort to groups you're not only doing them and the world a favour but you're practising skills and learning to better interact with a group, skills which will help you in many ways during your life.
Instead of writing the normal and unimpressive 'Socialising, sport and cinema' under the 'Interests and Activities' section on your CV when you contribute to open source you can write a short essay about the amazing things you do, projects you help and skills which you've practised. Not only does it demonstrate the always much desired ability to collaborate on projects and work as part of a team but it reflects a certain ability at self-determination and independent thought which employers are equally keen on.
Instead of writing the normal and unimpressive 'Socialising, sport and cinema' under the 'Interests and Activities' section on your CV when you contribute to open source you can write a short essay about the amazing things you do, projects you help and skills which you've practised. Not only does it demonstrate the always much desired ability to collaborate on projects and work as part of a team but it reflects a certain ability at self-determination and independent thought which employers are equally keen on.