Scaling a Programme to Three Countries

A programme that works in Singapore won't automatically translate to Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, or Chiang Mai. When UOB sought to extend its My Digital Space initiative across Southeast Asia, the core question wasn't simply about reach — it was about replicability.

Could a cyber wellness curriculum that worked in Singapore be adapted for different languages, cultural contexts, and school systems while retaining its effectiveness? And could that adaptation happen quickly enough to deliver across three new markets in a single year?

How We Approached It

We designed a localisation process that moved through three layers of adaptation.

Language came first: translating materials into Vietnamese, Bahasa Melayu, and Thai. But translation alone doesn't make content land. The next layer was cultural context: adjusting examples, scenarios, and discussion points to reflect how students in each country actually experience digital life. References that resonate in Singapore, such as specific platforms, social dynamics, parental expectations, needed rethinking for each market.

The final layer was the environment. We weren't delivering to a single type of school. Across the three countries, workshops ran in urban public schools, rural government schools, refugee learning centres in Malaysia, and a summer camp for orphans in Vietnam. Each setting required adjustments to pacing, assumed knowledge, and facilitation style.

Working with our trusted local partners in each market, we adapted and delivered cyber safety workshops for primary students and Generative AI safety workshops for secondary students, ensuring the content felt native rather than imported.

Where We Delivered

• Vietnam: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

• Malaysia: Klang Valley, including public schools and refugee learning centres.

• Thailand: Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai region in the rural north.

Across all three countries, we reached more than 8,000 students within a single year.

What Participants Said

"Our school is very concerned about online safety and often integrates this into informatics lessons. Today’s trainer gave students a deeper perspective on generative AI and many practical insights. We truly appreciate such a useful training program and hope there will be more in the future." — Vice Principal, Vietnam

"I learned how to protect myself from online dangers, and I will use these skills every time I go online." — Primary student, Thailand

"I loved the AI image game. I found out that we have to be careful." — Secondary student, Malaysia