Hi there,

It’s officially spooky season, and you know what’s scarier than ghosts? A hacked account. 👻

So what do you do when something goes wrong online? Don’t fret. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so we’ve teamed up with some friends from our Cyber Education Alliance to create a Cyber Emergency Kit to help parents and caregivers know what to do next.

Featuring tips from Common Sense Media, Cyber.org, Day of AI, National Cryptologic Foundation, Take9, Techbridge Girls, Women in Cybersecurity, and Women in Security and Privacy, we break it down into five simple steps:

Head to GetCyberSmart.org to explore the full emergency kit and make sure your family is prepared for the next cyber scare.

IN THE LOOP WITH GWC

Start a Girls Who Code Club and get a $200 gift card! 💵 In honor of International Day of the Girl, volunteers who apply to start a new 6-12th grade Girls Who Code Club between October 1-20 will be entered for a chance to receive a $200 gift card to support a project in their community. See official rules.

Spring Pathways 2027 applications are open! 🌸 Girls and non-binary students in grades 9-12 can explore AI + Society, Data Science + AI, Game Design, Cybersecurity, and Web Development in our free, virtual Spring Pathways program—no coding experience required. Apply by October 28 for priority consideration.

Support the Girls Who Code Innovation Fund 🎁 Help Girls Who Code empower more students with the education, skills, and community needed to become changemakers in tech. Your gift gives students a place to explore, create, and belong this school year and beyond. Make a gift today.

UPCOMING EVENTS

OCTOBER 6 | Build Your AI Operating System Responsibly 🖱️ | Build your own personal AI operating system on Tuesday, October 6th at 6 PM ET in this hands-on virtual session. Learn how to train an AI tool on your goals and context, use it to solve a real challenge in your job search, projects, or business, and leave with a tool you can continue building—no coding experience required.

OCTOBER 20 | Clubs Facilitator Workshop: AI 🤖 | Kick off your Club year with an interactive workshop for Clubs Facilitators from Girls Who Code on Tuesday, October 20th at 5:15 PM ET. Explore new activities designed to help students become thoughtful creators and responsible users of AI, try a hands-on activity yourself, and connect with fellow Clubs facilitators. 

OCTOBER 22 | Practice Your Speed Networking 🤝 | Build your networking confidence on Thursday, October 22nd at 6 PM ET during a fast-paced virtual event with professionals and peers. Practice your elevator pitch, strengthen your informational interview questions, and make connections that can support your next steps in tech.

THE LATEST BUZZ

THIS TEEN IS BUILDING THE FUTURE OF THE JOB SEARCH 💼 High school senior Navya Tuteja launched Raaha.AI, a free platform that helps neurodivergent job seekers assess whether a job is a good fit before they apply. She’s already reached more than 1,000 users while balancing her studies and serving as president of her school’s AI club.

SHE’S FEEDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS 🚀 Chinyere “Chichi” Ukeje, a Johns Hopkins engineering student, took first place in NASA’s Deep Space Food Challenge with a plan to feed a 15-person crew on Mars for 500 days. Her winning food system combines technology and sustainable growing methods to help astronauts enjoy fresh meals millions of miles from Earth.

THE MOST IMPORTANT VOICES IN THE AI DEBATE MIGHT BE TEEN GIRLS 💭 Girls Who Code CEO Susan Gouijnstook explores what teen girls can teach us about navigating emerging technologies with discernment. Our research shows that girls are more likely to set boundaries with AI, considering factors like privacy, accuracy, and environmental impact — and when girls feel agency in shaping the future of AI, they engage with it at higher levels. As AI and other emerging technologies continue to become part of our everyday lives, we can look to girls to show us what thoughtful engagement looks like.