Seeking guidance on early open-source contributions and preparation for potential INCF participation in GSoC 2026

I am a prospective student contributor interested in preparing early for Google Summer of Code 2026 with INCF. I would like guidance on how to get started with INCF-affiliated open-source projects, recommended repositories for beginners, and the official vs. community channels (mailing lists, forums, GitHub, Slack/Discourse, etc.) that students should follow for updates, mentorship, and early engagement if INCF participates in GSoC 2026.