Two students from the Palm Springs Unified School District traveled to the Middle East this week to determine just how persuasive they can be about world affairs.

Karley Henderson, 15, a sophomore at Desert Hot Springs High School, and Vanessa Wilcox, 16, a junior at Palm Springs High School, left Thursday for Doha, Qatar, to participate in the QatarDebate Academy and Mini World Schools Debate Championship. Following the debate activities, they will attend the United Nations' Youth Global Forum on Corruption.

The events will take place Saturday through Thursday.

“I'm so excited. I was surprised when they asked, but I was ready,” Karley said earlier this week.

The Coachella Valley teens were among 100 students across the U.S. who tried out for the 10-member national team, said Greg Paulk, a debate coach and teacher at Desert Springs Middle School.

“They're scary good. They're quick-thinking enough and knowledgeable enough about the world It's something any kid can do, but these kids are really good,” Paulk said.

Paulk is a chaperone for the team along with Beth Ferris, a teacher and debate coach at La Contenta Middle School in Yucca Valley.

Three other students from Southern California were expected to travel to Qatar with Karley and Wilcox.

All of their travel and lodging have been paid for by the government of Qatar, Paulk said.

The Southern California contingent will be joined by debate students from 10 different countries including Bahrain, Chile and Sudan.

“My roommate is from Uganda, so I'm really, really excited to meet her,” Vanessa said.

Karley said she was looking forward to the international exchange as well.

“This is one of the best opportunities that I've ever seen for student debaters,” said Kate Shuster, director of the Claremont McKenna College's Middle School Public Debate Program. She has worked with both students since they were in sixth grade.

Both Karley and Vanessa said they are more excited than nervous about the opportunity.

“I'll be more nervous when I'm up at the podium, when I'm up for the first round,” Vanessa said.