Between 1945 and 1952, the Unione Donne Italiane and the Italian Communist Party organised the removal of around 70,000 children from poor backgrounds. The operation started in Milan and was subsequently extended to the South of Italy. The children headed to Central Italy, to be temporarily hosted by local families. Despite its importance within the context of Italy’s post-war reconstruction, the initiative constitutes one of the most neglected pages of Italian history. In recent years, it has nonetheless gained attention in both literary and historical works. The present talk offers an overview of the initiative, also illustrating its connection to current migratory flows and its potential for rethinking contemporary migration and reception policies.