Film Annex has launched WomensAnnex.com as a self-sustaining digital platform and ecosystem created and managed by Afghan women. The platform promotes and supports women's empowerment within and outside of Central and South Asia with videos, instructional programs, and Blog stories about education, business, sports, and a variety of other topics. With over 35,000 professional films and videos on its platform, WomensAnnex.com encourages women in developing countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to be financially independent self-starters.

WomensAnnex.com is a starting point for women from all over the World to create their own film and blogging platform within the Film Annex network. Film Annex is a "Thought Leader" in the "pay for content" economic model where a WebTV @ Film Annex becomes a financial resource for each woman. Historically, women perform better than men on social media, especially women from developing countries. For cultural reasons, many women in developing countries spend more time at home and in front of a computer. WomensAnnex.com now allows women to capitalize on this cultural shift in Digital Media, and it has been positioned by Film Annex Founder and President Francesco Rulli to allow women in developing countries to take charge of their financial lives.
 
Film Annex created The Afghan Development Project in March 2011, with Roya Mahboob and Fereshteh Forough who are the women partners of Afghan Citadel Software Company. The success of this initiative was the catalyst for the formation of Citadel of New York, LLC, a Joint Venture company owned by Afghans, Italians, and Americans. A "Citadel" is a symbolic safe point for international cultures, and is a place where trade, cooperation, and new ideas can be traded, fueled, and preserved. Film Annex is now prioritizing women’s empowerment by launching a platform dedicated to women – a place where they can blog, upload videos, share content, and get paid via advertising revenues. WomensAnnex.com is an extension of the existing work of Film Annex and Citadel of New York. It is a place for women artisans to act as merchants of ideas.
 
Citadel of New York recently developed Examer software, an Interactive and Educational Social Networking platform with a Micro Scholarship Payment System that currently connects over 25,000 Afghan children to the world. Examer was created to further educate young women in topics like social and digital media, business, and filmmaking. A universal platform built by women and easily tailored to the needs of regional languages and cultures, Examer rewards bloggers, filmmakers, and other content creators with micro scholarship payments.

WomensAnnex.com is the official online distributor of Esteqlal Football Team's games, interviews, and videos. In the traditionally male-dominated world of international soccer, Esteqlal Football Team is unique as its online advertising, promotion, and social media strategy are managed by Afghan women. Esteqlal acts as a special case study in international football.

Esteqlal benefits from the exceptional social media and software development skills of female experts at Women's Annex, which has over 3 million unique monthly viewers. Esteqlal Football Team currently has over 30,000 fans on Facebook.

Roya Mahboob of Afghan Citadel Software Company added:

“The goal of this project is to empower the women of Afghanistan and Central Asia by educating them in all facets of society, whether it be economics, health, business, or education. With the power of the internet, Women’s Annex will reach women on a global scale.”

Fereshteh Forough of Afghan Citadel Software Company stated:

“WomensAnnex.com gives women in Afghanistan and other developing countries the opportunity to be thought leaders by promoting their ideas with the power of social media. WomensAnnex.com will support women in their quest for financial independence and it will allow women to express their changing beliefs in a changing society."

Francesco Rulli stated:

"In the Digital Media world ‘Content is King’, and WomensAnnex.com will empower queens to become kings as the platform allows women in developing countries to take control of their destiny and future. On WomensAnnex.com, women from Central and South Asia can publish their best ideas, stories, and insights while generating revenues for their own financial independence.”

Visit the corporate page for more information.