In a recent report, the International Labour Association projected that tens of millions more people could become unemployed, and that women would be hit harder, and more severely than men.

Given that women tend to work in labor intensive export industries, that feed the global supply chain, they're among the first to lose their jobs when demand for exports in manufacturing and clothing dries up.
However, a women's group in Hefei, in Eastern China's Anhui province, has stepped up to ensure that local business women are able to weather the financial storm. Last week, three of these local entrepreneurs were offered interest free loans of around 3,000 USD, in order to help their businesses survive.

The loans, which were provided by Chinese women's organizations and the Chinese women's federation, are aimed at helping women start their own businesses and fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams.