United Way Yuma County celebrates BizKids

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Local elementary school students recently stepped into adult roles for a day through United Way’s “BizKids” program, an initiative designed to give young participants a firsthand look at what it means to be a working citizen. The program allowed students to visit local businesses that sponsored the event, where they explored various job roles and gained insight into the responsibilities and opportunities within their community.

In preparation for the experience, students completed a 16-week curriculum at their schools that focused on practical, real-world skills. This included activities such as mock job interviews and exercises intended to build confidence and familiarity with professional environments. The hands-on approach aimed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-life application.

Mallory Edgar, Executive Director of United Way Yuma County, emphasized the importance of early exposure to these experiences.

“Having the experience of going through a mock interview, there’s some people that, you know, they never interview for anything until they’re an adult and they’re going for their first job interview… our goal is for them to stay local... and contribute to Yuma County.”

The BizKids program is primarily open to fourth and fifth grade students.