Thiel College shares Human Rights Day video by alumnus and filmmaker Firdaus Kharas

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College alumnus Firdaus Kharas ’78 H’07, an internationally known humanitarian and mass-communication innovator, has produced a new video in observance of Human Rights Day. The annual global observance, held on Dec. 10, marks the anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Human Rights Day commemorates the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Kharas’ newest piece continues his longstanding mission to use animation and storytelling to promote empathy and positive social change across cultures. Kharas has earned global recognition throughout his career. Among his honors, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada—one of the country’s highest civilian distinctions—several years ago for his contributions to humanitarian communication and mass-media innovation.

A political science major at Thiel College, Kharas first came to campus as the inaugural recipient of the Rotary Club of Bombay’s international exchange-student scholarship. The College awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2007 in recognition of his global work.

Kharas has been profiled more than 500 times by international media, including The New Yorker, Reader’s Digest, Maclean’s, and The Atlantic.

In 1995, he founded Chocolate Moose Media, a hybrid social enterprise that produces both commercial programming and not-for-profit global public health and social impact campaigns. Over his career, Kharas has created more than 4,000 animated behavior-change shorts, adapted into more than 500 languages and viewed in 198 countries by more than a billion people. His productions have appeared on Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, HBO, and Nickelodeon. His 2006 animated series addressing HIV/AIDS prevention in Africa earned a Peabody Award and high praise from Bishop Desmond Tutu.

Kharas’ new Human Rights Day video reinforces the universal principles of human rights and the need for continued commitment to equity and justice. College leaders noted that sharing the piece aligns with Thiel’s emphasis on civic engagement, community responsibility, and global awareness.

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