This blog, from Hope and Homes for Children, argues that the new Netflix documentary Masaka Kids: A Rhythm Within—produced with the involvement of Harry and Meghan and set in a Ugandan orphanage—presents a superficially heartwarming story that risks reinforcing harmful perceptions about institutional care at a time when global leaders, including the UK, are advocating for family-based care and ending orphanages. It highlights that most children in orphanages aren’t true orphans, that institutionalisation carries serious risks like neglect and abuse, and that celebrity-backed narratives can inadvertently encourage donations that sustain orphanage systems rather than supporting children to thrive in families. The piece also raises ethical concerns about filming vulnerable children without meaningful consent and contrasts the documentary with evidence and policy commitments aimed at ending orphanages, emphasizing that children belong in family care, not institutions, and urging the conversation to focus on what truly benefits children.