The initiative began with several philosophers of education from different countries coming together, who shared concerns regarding the dehumanizing trends in educational policies and practice. The initiative is based on ideas, participation and support of a number of leading thinkers and scholars such as T. Airaksinen, A. Asmolov, R. Barnett, H. Gardner, M. Gopinath, B. Lingard, D. Narvaez, C. Wulf, and others, including the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the author of works on secular ethics and education, the 14th Dalai Lama.