School planned for up to 500 students
The planned school complex will accommodate up to 500 students ages 10 to 18. Its boarding facility is intended to provide a safe home, particularly for children from remote areas or difficult family circumstances.
The foundation and the Augustinian order are jointly undertaking the project. The 71-year-old pope, born Robert Francis Prevost, formerly led the order worldwide. He served as General Prior in Rome from 2001 to 2013 and is the first Augustinian pope.
RTL charity chief Wolfram Kons has already met with Leo in Rome, the foundation said. Kons described the pope's blessing for the project as both an honor and a responsibility. He said they shared the goal of giving children a better future and that the pope had emphasized the importance of education and culture for a dignified life.
The foundation has previously supported work in Togo, including the construction of an eye clinic in 2012.
A new broadcast location for the 31st marathon
The school is one of several projects that will receive support from this year's fundraiser. The 31st RTL-Spendenmarathon begins live on November 19 at 6 p.m., with its finale scheduled for November 20 at 6 p.m. The event will run for more than 24 hours, and RTL will adjust its regular programming.
For the first time, the marathon will be produced at RTL's broadcasting center in Cologne-Deutz rather than an external studio.
Other project patrons include journalist Sandra Maischberger, who supports music and media projects at special needs schools. Lina and Joshua Kimmich are backing the construction of a child protection house in Munich, while Bruce Darnell is campaigning against child labor in Madagascar's mica mines.
Fundraising since 1996
According to the foundation's 2026 event page, the marathon has raised more than 330 million euros for its children's aid projects since the first edition in 1996.
The foundation says it has held the DZI donation seal continuously since 2002. It also says production of the 2026 marathon will again be climate-neutral.
