This session will highlight the work of three innovative organizations (Asociación Bayán, Na’leb’ak, and SERniña) that use gender transformative approaches to shift social norms in conservative settings. The organizations work on engaging young people, parents and community leadership, transforming policies and bolstering civic engagement, improving pedagogy and the curriculum within and outside the school environment, and evaluating and improving methodology. Their work connects efforts to address gender inequality within and alongside the education system and with broader movements for social justice. Speakers will describe how their transformative partnerships with and among youth, families, schools, communities, donors and governments have allowed them to tackle “taboo” issues in the region, including machismo, sexual and domestic violence, early unions and pregnancy, sexuality education and gender roles. Session participants also will engage directly in small groups.