Mathew Carpenter, an 82-year-old Irish man, has been in China since 1981. He spent the last 13 years in Anshun, Southwest China's Guizhou province, working in philanthropy. Now he is heading back to Ireland.

Mathew Carpenter (Photo/ Zhou Dayi)

During these 13 years, Mathew has built nine primary schools and supported 1,000 students to complete their high school or college education.

Also, Mathew has helped 80 villages build their drinking water system.

He has spent almost 20 years in Guizhou province. He has devoted himself to supporting students as well as roughly 100 village projects concerning medical and technical training.

Considering Mathew's prominent achievement, in 2002, Zhu Rongji, former premier of China, highly praised him and rewarded him with the Friendship Award, which recognizes foreigners who make outstanding contributions to China's modernization, reform and opening-up.

According to Mathew, in 2001, he founded an association in Zhenning county, Anshun, to team up overseas Chinese to help people in Anshun.

"The association is like a ribbon that not only ties up people's hearts but also serves as a way to help and get help," said Mathew.

Mathew has visited a number of embassies and charity funds to raise money for school construction, orphanages and medical support.

"I am packing and leaving Anshun quietly. If I were not old, I would have stayed here to help more people," said Mathew.