Photos: Former President Carter redefined post-presidency role

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Photos: Former President Carter redefined post-presidency role : The Picture Show The Nobel Peace Prize winner devoted himself to improving the health of people around the world, promoting democracy and resolving global conflicts.

December 30, 20244:32 PM ET

former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, background right, looks at former U.S. president, Jimmy Carter, center, while visiting a weekly protest in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. The protest was organized by groups supporting Palestinians evicted from their homes in east Jerusalem by Israeli authorities.

October 22, 2010: former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, background right, looks at former U.S. president, Jimmy Carter, center, while visiting a weekly protest in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. The protest was organized by groups supporting Palestinians evicted from their homes in east Jerusalem by Israeli authorities. Bernat Armangue/AP hide caption

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Bernat Armangue/AP

After leaving the Oval Office with dismal approval ratings, former President Jimmy Carter dedicated the rest of his life to public service.

Carter devoted himself to improving the health of people around the world, promoting democracy and resolving global conflicts.

In the decades that followed, Carter won the approval of the American public by rebuilding homes with Habitat for Humanity and establishing the nonprofit Carter Center, which among other work monitors international elections. Carter's additional work, including his time as a professor at Emory University, and the books he published on democracy and humanitarianism transformed him into a symbol of peace.

Carter also took on the awful Guinea worm when no one else would — and he triumphed.

We take a look through photos at some of his post-presidency achievements.

North Korean border guard showing a weary-looking former US President Jimmy Carter (C) and his wife Rosalynn (L), the way to the South Korea side of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) as they leave North Korea through Panmunjom border village after Carter's controversial meeting with North Korean President Kim Il-sung.

June 18, 1994: North Korean border guard showing a weary-looking former US President Jimmy Carter (C) and his wife Rosalynn (L), the way to the South Korea side of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) as they leave North Korea through Panmunjom border village after Carter's controversial meeting with North Korean President Kim Il-sung. Choo Youn-Kong/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Choo Youn-Kong/AFP via Getty Images

Former US President Jimmy Carter checks a ballot box in the Daheisha refugee camp in the West Bank. Carter was heading a international delegation to observe the Palestinian elections.

January 20, 1996: Former US President Jimmy Carter checks a ballot box in the Daheisha refugee camp in the West Bank. Carter was heading a international delegation to observe the Palestinian elections. Yoav Lemmer/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Yoav Lemmer/AFP via Getty Images

Cuban President Fidel Castro watches former US President Jimmy Carter throw a baseball prior to the start of a a friendly baseball match between two Cuban teams in Havana, Cuba. At the time, Carter was the first U.S. President, in or out of office, to visit communist Cuba since the 1959 revolution that put Castro in power.

May 14, 2002: Cuban President Fidel Castro watches former US President Jimmy Carter throw a baseball prior to the start of a a friendly baseball match between two Cuban teams in Havana, Cuba. At the time, Carter was the first U.S. President, in or out of office, to visit communist Cuba since the 1959 revolution that put Castro in power. Sven Creutzmann/Getty Images hide caption

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Sven Creutzmann/Getty Images

Nobel Peace Prize winner, former US President Jimmy Carter (2ndL) and his wife Rosalynn (L), greet wellwishers during a torchlight procession, from the balcony of Grand Hotel in downtown Oslo, prior the Norwegian Nobel Committee's banquet.

December 10, 2002: Nobel Peace Prize winner, former US President Jimmy Carter (2ndL) and his wife Rosalynn (L), greet wellwishers during a torchlight procession, from the balcony of Grand Hotel in downtown Oslo, prior the Norwegian Nobel Committee's banquet. Erland Aas/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Erland Aas/AFP via Getty Images

This file photo shows former US president Jimmy Carter (L) greeting newly elected local officials at the village of Quanwang in Zhouzhuang town. Carter had urged China to hold direct democratic elections at township and county levels and vowed to bring up the issue with Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

September 5, 2001: This file photo shows former US president Jimmy Carter (L) greeting newly elected local officials at the village of Quanwang in Zhouzhuang town. Carter had urged China to hold direct democratic elections at township and county levels and vowed to bring up the issue with Chinese President Jiang Zemin. AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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AFP via Getty Images

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (R) watches election workers during a visit to a polling station on July 5,2004. Carter is in the country assisting election observers from the Carter center as well as observing the election process. Indonesians voted today to choose a candidate for the first time over a party. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

July 5, 2004: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (R) watches election workers during a visit to a polling station on July 5,2004. Carter is in the country assisting election observers from the Carter center as well as observing the election process. Indonesians voted today to choose a candidate for the first time over a party. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images) Paula Bronstein/Getty Images hide caption

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Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (L) takes notes while listening to a translater during his polling station observation visit in Maputo, Mozambique. Mozambique's long-time President Joaquim Chissano expressed surprise at the abysmal turn-out in elections to choose his successor, and blamed the poor showing on widespread illiteracy and ignorance of political systems.

December 2, 2004: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (L) takes notes while listening to a translater during his polling station observation visit in Maputo, Mozambique. Mozambique's long-time President Joaquim Chissano expressed surprise at the abysmal turn-out in elections to choose his successor, and blamed the poor showing on widespread illiteracy and ignorance of political systems. Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter exits a polling site in Monrovia, Liberia. The Carter Center, founded by Carter to promote peace initiatives and health issues worldwide, is in Liberia to monitor the elections along with the National Democratic Institute.

October 11, 2005: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter exits a polling site in Monrovia, Liberia. The Carter Center, founded by Carter to promote peace initiatives and health issues worldwide, is in Liberia to monitor the elections along with the National Democratic Institute. Chris Hondros/Getty Images hide caption

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Chris Hondros/Getty Images

President-elect Barack Obama is welcomed by President George W. Bush for a meeting at the White House in Washington, with former presidents, from left, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.

January 7, 2009: President-elect Barack Obama is welcomed by President George W. Bush for a meeting at the White House in Washington, with former presidents, from left, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Former President Jimmy Carter signs his name in the guest book at the Jewish Community center in Havana, Cuba, Monday March 28, 2011. Carter arrived in Cuba to discuss economic policies and ways to improve Washington-Havana relations, which are even more tense than usual over the imprisonment of Alan Gross, a U.S. contractor, on the island. C (AP Photo/Adalberto Roque, Pool)

March 28, 2011: Former President Jimmy Carter signs his name in the guest book at the Jewish Community center in Havana, Cuba, Monday March 28, 2011. Carter arrived in Cuba to discuss economic policies and ways to improve Washington-Havana relations, which are even more tense than usual over the imprisonment of Alan Gross, a U.S. contractor, on the island. C (AP Photo/Adalberto Roque, Pool) Adalberto Roque/Associated Press hide caption

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Adalberto Roque/Associated Press

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, left, cuts wood as he works on a home as his wife Rosalynn looks on as they visit a Habitat for Humanity project in Leogane, Haiti. The Carters joined volunteers from around the world to build 100 homes in partnership with earthquake-affected families in Haiti during a week-long Habitat for Humanity housing project. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

November 7, 2011: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, left, cuts wood as he works on a home as his wife Rosalynn looks on as they visit a Habitat for Humanity project in Leogane, Haiti. The Carters joined volunteers from around the world to build 100 homes in partnership with earthquake-affected families in Haiti during a week-long Habitat for Humanity housing project. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) Ramon Espinosa/Associated Press hide caption

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Ramon Espinosa/Associated Press

former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, center, observes the election process inside a polling station in the Sayeda Aisha neighborhood of Cairo, Egypt. Carter was warning Egypt that its transition to democracy after years of political turmoil is faltering ahead of presidential elections planned for later this month, in a statement Friday, May 16, 2014.

May 23, 2012: former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, center, observes the election process inside a polling station in the Sayeda Aisha neighborhood of Cairo, Egypt. Carter was warning Egypt that its transition to democracy after years of political turmoil is faltering ahead of presidential elections planned for later this month, in a statement Friday, May 16, 2014. Thomas Hartwell/AP hide caption

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Thomas Hartwell/AP

Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter visit the Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon. Carter headed to Myanmar and Nepal, hoping to find ways to encourage democracy in the two Asian nations, which are undergoing political transitions.

April 5, 2013: Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter visit the Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon. Carter headed to Myanmar and Nepal, hoping to find ways to encourage democracy in the two Asian nations, which are undergoing political transitions. Soe Than Win/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Soe Than Win/AFP via Getty Images

Former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter (C) speaks to the media after meeting with Nepal's Chairman of the Interim Election Government, Khilraj Regmi (R) in Kathmandu on November 17, 2013. Carter will be in Nepal for six days and will observe the Constituent Assembly election scheduled for November 19.

November 17, 2013: Former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter (C) speaks to the media after meeting with Nepal's Chairman of the Interim Election Government, Khilraj Regmi (R) in Kathmandu on November 17, 2013. Carter will be in Nepal for six days and will observe the Constituent Assembly election scheduled for November 19. Prakash Mathema/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Prakash Mathema/AFP via Getty Images

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