Arely grew up in the Pacaya community, east of El Crucero. Her biological parents, whom she has never met, gave her up for adoption, and at age 11 her adoptive mother passed away. Her adoptive father was left with the task of working full-time while also caring for Arely and her adoptive siblings.
Arely began work at a very young age, peddling cool water around the community to earn enough money for food. She was not supported by her adoptive family, and began to sleep wherever she happened to be when nightfall came. She could think of only one solution that might save her from homelessness: she got married at age 14.
Arely gave birth to her first son at age 15. She quickly had two more children, but then her husband and father of the children abandoned the family. She, along with her three kids, were homeless. Out of desperation, she found an orphanage called Hogar Siervo del Divino Rostro, where her children could find shelter, be safe, and have food.
In 2012, Arely connected with The Rainbow Network and applied to become a beneficiary of the housing project being built in El Crucero. Soon after applying, she found out that she was accepted and that she and her children would be receiving a new home they could call their own.
Arely decided that, now that had safe and secure housing, she would open her own business to support her family and their future. She opened her own convenience store, which continues to grow little by little as Arely invests more and more into it. She uses the profits to pay for her home, for food, and education for her kids.
