Sports Envoy Barry Larkin poses with Colombian youth after his speech in Cartagena.

Former Major League Baseball player Barry Larkin visited Colombia as an Envoy for the Sports United Program for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Larkin, along with Cincinnati Reds trainer Matthew Krause, former MLB pitcher Joseph Logan and Steve Laska from the Academy of Champions, took on a fast-paced program visiting three Colombian cities; Bogota, Cartagena and Barranquilla, November 5-12, 2008. Larkin conducted seven baseball clinics for more than 800 Colombian youth, both boys and girls, and coaches. Larkin delivered several inspirational talks to schools about the importance of education, hard work and perseverance. He shared his experiences both as a young boy and as a professional player, when he learned Spanish to communicate with his Hispanic teammates. Larkin immediately connected with his audience by quoting, "Trabajar, Trabajar y Trabajar," or "Work, Work, Work" to the youth and coaches that came to hear and learn from the former Cincinnati Reds MVP. The President of Colombia often conveys a similar message to his countrymen.  

While in Colombia, Larkin and U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield served as honorary baseball coaches for a friendly game with a group of underprivileged children participating in an after school program for the drug prevention NGO Fundacion Niños de Papel. Before the game began, the kids received baseball bats, gloves, and balls donated by Major League Baseball and Pitch in for Baseball. Larkin's program drew wide coverage from the media.
 
Barry also attended a Colombian professional league game between the Caimanes of Barranquilla and the Leones of Monteria, where he addressed the capacity crowd, passed out baseballs to the little leaguers and threw out the first pitch at the November 9th game.

For many of the children and coaches, Larkin represented hope and aspiration for a brighter future. "Trabajar, Trabajar y Trabajar!"