After years between Africa and Europe, Bernadette returned to Lyon with one certainty: to integrate into a new country, you must understand its language and culture. But learning French, though essential, remains inaccessible to many exiles. Through her sponsorship of Mohammed, an Iraqi asylum seeker, Bernadette was confronted with a stark reality: in Lyon, asylum seekers are almost have no access to structured French classes. The only available options that do exist are limited to a few irregular and limited hours of teaching. delivered by volunteers, without formal training and academic oversight. This is how ERIS was born in 2016. The association quickly became a place of life and exchange, where French classes are accompanied by collective cooking, shared meals, and cultural projects. In 2018, a major turning point occurred: ERIS moved into a professional kitchen and launched its community restaurant. Every week, refugees on language training prepare dishes from around the world, offering diners much more than a meal: an encounter, a story, a bridge between cultures. In the face of challenging circumstances, she resolved to take decisive action. An idea emerged: to establish an innovative learning environment where the French language would become a means of fostering autonomy and integration. However, Bernadette firmly believed that language is not merely learned in isolation it must be lived, shared, and even cooked. Drawing inspiration from the conviviality of shared meals and the richness of cultural exchange, she envisioned a school where French instruction would be complemented by culinary and artistic workshops, creating opportunities for exiles and locals to connect around the table. ERIS was founded in the light of this vision in 2016. The association quickly became a vibrant community hub, where French classes are enriched by group cooking, shared meals, and cultural projects. In 2018, ERIS reached a major milestone by moving into a professional kitchen and launching its community restaurant. Each week, refugees participating in language training prepare dishes from around the world, offering visitors much more than a meal: a meeting, a story, a bridge between cultures. Since its founding, ERIS has trained over 450 people, served thousands of meals, and demonstrated that language and cuisine are powerful tools for integration. Today, the association continues to grow: expanding its training programs, developing its catering services, raising awareness about social inclusion, and more. Its ambition remains unchanged: to make ERIS a hub where everyone can find their place and build their future.